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 Range of zebra shark (in blue)
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The zebra shark, Stegostoma fasciatum, is a common carpet shark of inshore Indo-Pacific waters notable for its very long caudal fin, nearly as long as its body. It is the only species in the family Stegostomatidae and the genus Stegostoma.
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Common name
The name zebra shark is given because as a juvenile the shark has zebra-like stripes. When it matures these stripes change to cheetah-like spots. A name widely used to refer to Triakis semifasciata, a small benthic shark found in the Eastern Pacific coastline of North America.
Distribution and habitat
The zebra shark is found in the tropical Western Pacific and Indian oceans at depths of about 5 to 30 m.
Anatomy and appearance
It is a very sleek and slender shark, about 3.5m (11.5 ft) long. In addition to the long tail, the zebra shark has distinctive ridges running down its body. As its names suggest, it is patterned; young sharks are dark with yellowish stripes, changing to an adult pattern of a tan color with dark spots, found all over including the fins. The snout is rather rounded, with small barbels (whiskers).
Behavior
The zebra shark is a slow-moving type, often just sitting on the seafloor in the vicinity of coral reefs, on sandy or rocky bottoms. Unlike most types of sharks, it does not need to move, and instead pumps water through its gills. This is known as the ram-jet effect.
Diet
It feeds on mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish that it sucks out of the sand at night, and is capable of wiggling through small holes and crevices in its search for food.
Importance to humans
Zebra sharks do well in captivity, and a number of aquariums around the world have them on display. They are fished commercially on a small scale. They are often seen by scuba divers, and will lay still on the bottom as long as a diver does not come too close. They are harmless to divers as long as they are not disturbed. In addition several aquariums have shown them to be easy learners, even teaching them to respond to touch by flapping their gills. Due to its large caudal fins, this species are a prized catch for fishermen to make shark fin soup.
In popular culture
The male lead of Margaret Drabble's The Sea Lady is an expert on zebra sharks, which plays a substantial part in the plot.
See also
References
- Pillans & Simpfendorfer (2003). Stegostoma fasciatum. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is vulnerable
- Stegostoma fasciatum (TSN 159973). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 23 January 2006.
- "Stegostoma fasciatum". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Nov 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.
External links
- Zebra Shark Pictures - Zebra Shark Pictures
- ARKive - images and movies of the leopard shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)
- Zebra shark, Stegostoma fasicatum MarineBio"
- Some history concerning the name, and other answers about the Zebra shark by R. Aidan Martin
- Seaworld picture of a baby zebra shark
- London aquarium announcement of zebra shark egg laying
- Leopard shark in Byron Bay - one of the worlds known congregation areas for Leopard sharks
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 13 August 2008, at 06:56.
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