Zebra Shark

Stegostoma Fasciatum


Size (length and weight)

Average Zebra Sharks lengths range from 8 to 10 feet.

Average weight of a Zebra Shark is 35 pounds.


Physical description

Zebra Sharks have a cylindrical body with prominent ridges on the sides and 5 gill slits. Also their tail lacks ventral lobe and it is as long as the body. They have a broad head and their mouth is in front on their eyes. Adults have a grayish-brown color with dark spots. Juveniles are darker with lighter stripes and spots. Those are the identfying marks of an adult and juvenile Zebra Shark.

Location in the World

Zebra Sharks can be found in the Tropical Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.

Diet

The Zebra Shark can get its food because of its flexible body it can squirm into narrow crevices and reef channels. Zebra Sharks eat small fish, reef mollusks and crustaceans.

Predators

It is hard for other animals to be a threat to Zebra Sharks, so the only threats to Zebra Sharks are bigger sharks as well as humans.

Other names

The Zebra Shark is also known as the Leopard Shark.

Questions I Still Have

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  1. Why are they called Zebra Sharks when their colors are brown and yellow?
  2. How many Zebra Sharks are there in thw world?
  3. How fast can they move through the water?
  4. How can you tell a female and a male apart?
  5. What is their favorite thing to eat?
Resources
National Aquarium
Aqua

http://www.aqua.org/animals_zebrashark.html
Copyright-2008
March 17, 2010


Bharat Ramanujam
Endangered and Rare Animals

http://www.endangeredandrareanimals.com/zebra_shark1.htm
Updated- August 28, 2009
March 17, 2010


David Campbell
MarineBio

http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=56
Copyright- 2010
March 17, 2010




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