‹ Fish Finder· #691
Zebra Shark
Stegostoma fasciatum
Bislamasak— names this kind of animal, not this species alone
- Group
- Shark & ray
- Habitat
- Sand & rubble
- Max size
- 3.5 m
- Depth
- 5-30 m
- Family
- Stegostomatidae
The zebra shark, also known as the Indo-Pacific leopard shark, is a species of carpet shark and the only extant member of the family Stegostomatidae. It is found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific, frequenting coral reefs and sandy flats to a depth of 62 m (200 ft). Zebra sharks are distinctive in appearance, with adults possessing five longitudinal ridges on a cylindrical body, a low caudal fin comprising nearly half the total length, and typically a pattern of dark spots on a pale background. Young zebra sharks under 50–90 cm (20–35 in) long have a completely different pattern, consisting of light vertical stripes on a brown background, and lack the ridges. This species attains a length of 2.5 m (8.2 ft).
Adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Behaviour
Rests motionless on sand by day, propped on its pectoral fins, and hunts snails and crabs in reef crevices at night. Juveniles are striped black and yellow; adults are spotted, hence 'leopard shark'.