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Range and Habitat: Tropical inshore shark of the continental and insular shelves of the Indo-West Pacific. They range from South Africa to Australia, New Caledonia and Palau. Very common on coral reefs. Rather sluggish during the daytime, may be more active at night. Becomes more active when food is introduced into aquarium it is in.
Description: Maximum total length possibly 354 cm (11.6 feet). Zebra sharks usually range from 147 to 233 cm (4.8 to 7.6 feet), however females are often a bit larger than males. Adult zebra sharks are cylindrical, with prominent ridges on side, head broad and conical and somewhat flattened. Color pattern of dark saddles over yellow in young, (zebra stripes), changing to small brown spots on a yellow background in adults, (leopard spots). There is considerable variation in color pattern between individuals of like size. Gill openings small with the fifth overlapping the forth.
Habits and Adaptations: Teeth very similar in shape and size, no differences in surface or function. Its behavior is little know, it is usually seen resting on a sandy bottom near a coral reef. No migration or movement studies have been conducted, but its’ habits would suggest a feeding range based on food supply.
Diet: Feeds primarily on mollusks, (gastropods and bivalves), but also crustaceans, (crabs and shrimps), along with small bony fish.
Breeding and Maturation: They are oviparous laying eggs in large dark brown or purplish-black cases with fine lateral tufts of hair like fibers. The hair like fibers anchor the cases to the substrate. At the zoo they tend to lay eggs from November to February. Young hatchlings are 20 to 36 cm (7.9 to 14.2 inches) The young hatch prepared for life. Lifespan is unknown.
Miscellaneous: Zebra sharks are a hardy shark, ideal for captivity. These sharks are regularly taken in inshore fisheries for their meat, fresh and dried salted for human consumption. Livers are processed for vitamins, and fins dried for sharkfin soup. These sharks are unaggressive when approached underwater, and have not been involved in attacks on people. Although this shark is apparently not dangerous, and has very small teeth, its jaws are strong and could deliver a painful bite to an unwary human tormentor. Other sharks and humans are considered its predators. |