The leopard shark has a relatively thick body. The nose is rounded. The color of the shark's back varies from silvery to a bronzed gray, with black saddle-shaped markings and large black spots. Adult sharks often have more spots and saddles than juveniles. The belly is whitish without other markings. The eyes are large and oval and the shark has a nictitating membrane (a transparent or translucent third eyelid that can be drawn across the eye for protection while maintaining visibility). Both jaws have two rows of teeth, with a greater number of teeth in the upper jaw. The teeth are arranged into a flat surface with overlapping ridges. The large first dorsal fin is about halfway between the pectoral and pelvic fins. The second dorsal fin is almost as large as the first and is located beyond the pelivic fins. The lower lobe of the caudal fin in adults is much smaller than the upper lobe.