You never know what cool animals will be show up in our Underwater Explorers dive program! For the benefit of the kids, our husbandry staff recently released a small (and harmless) leopard shark into the Great Tide Pool! It will swim out with the next high tide, and into the bay!

Leopard sharks are considered shy and skittish, virtually harmless to humans. They feed primarily on bottom-dwelling invertebrates like crabs, shrimp, clams and octopus, as well as some bony fishes including anchovies, smelts and even some other bottom-dwelling sharks and rays. 

Did you know that leopard sharks sink unless they’re swimming? Fortunately, being close to the bottom is a good thing, since these sharks like to graze the seafloor for crabs, clam siphons, fish eggs, and the burrowing, hot-dog-shaped fat innkeeper worm. Learn more about these fascinating animals at Shark Days February 11-12!