What common shark species is named for its yellowish skin color?

The lemon shark is the common shark species named for its yellowish skin color.

Its scientific name is Negaprion brevirostris, a member of the requiem shark family, Carcharhinidae. The yellow or olive-brown coloration is especially useful camouflage when the shark swims over sandy coastal seafloors, where it often hunts. This coloration, rather than a citrus-related trait, inspired the common name.

Lemon sharks live in warm coastal waters of the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific. They are often associated with shallow bays, mangroves, and nursery areas, and individuals can return to particular sites. Their diet includes bony fish, rays, crustaceans, and other small marine animals. Electroreceptors around the snout help them detect prey hidden in the sand.

The name can cause confusion with the similarly colored nurse shark or yellowish variations in other species. Lemon sharks are not bright yellow like a lemon; their muted color is usually yellow-brown or olive. The species was first described by Felipe Poey in 1868 and is currently classified as Vulnerable.