Meet the Zebra Shark also known in Thailand as Leopard Shark
1. Zebra Sharks or leopard Sharks?
2. Where can Zebra Sharks be found?
3. The Zebra Sharks diet: what do they eat?
4. Zebra Sharks reproduction​
5. Zebra Sharks asexual reproduction​...?
6. Are Zebra Sharks dangerous? How to approach them?
7. About Zebra Sharks conservation?
2. Where can Zebra Sharks be found?
3. The Zebra Sharks diet: what do they eat?
4. Zebra Sharks reproduction​
5. Zebra Sharks asexual reproduction​...?
6. Are Zebra Sharks dangerous? How to approach them?
7. About Zebra Sharks conservation?
Zebra Sharks or Leopard Shark?
Beautiful zebra shark by Franck Fogarolo
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Zebra shark are so cute and peaceful!
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The most common confusion among divers concerns the Leopard Shark, very often confused with the Zebra Shark, which is frequently encountered when diving in tropical areas.
Both species have the particularity, in adulthood, of sporting a spotted coat like the African leopard.
However, the two species are biologically different and very easily differentiable.
On the left, the Zebra Shark is born with "zebra lines" which change into leopard-like-spots when they reach adulthood. Their Cylindrical body measure from 50cm at birth to 3.50 m when fully grown with prominent ridges along the flanks. Upped lobe of the caudal fin is very long.
On the right, the Leopard Shark has a unique spotted gray-dress an can measure up to 1.80m, so it is a bit smaller than its congener the Zebra Shark. It lives in the cold to temperate waters bordering the United States, from the Gulf of Mexico to Oregon. Its favorite areas of evolution are the turbid, shallow and rough areas of the seaside, the sandy bottoms and the rocky substrates of the kelp forests.
This lovely little shark is probably the reason why American divers call Stegostoma tigrinum "zebra shark" but the rest of the world (diving warmer water and hence never in touch with the triakis semifasciata) just call them "Leopard shark"...
Both species have the particularity, in adulthood, of sporting a spotted coat like the African leopard.
However, the two species are biologically different and very easily differentiable.
On the left, the Zebra Shark is born with "zebra lines" which change into leopard-like-spots when they reach adulthood. Their Cylindrical body measure from 50cm at birth to 3.50 m when fully grown with prominent ridges along the flanks. Upped lobe of the caudal fin is very long.
On the right, the Leopard Shark has a unique spotted gray-dress an can measure up to 1.80m, so it is a bit smaller than its congener the Zebra Shark. It lives in the cold to temperate waters bordering the United States, from the Gulf of Mexico to Oregon. Its favorite areas of evolution are the turbid, shallow and rough areas of the seaside, the sandy bottoms and the rocky substrates of the kelp forests.
This lovely little shark is probably the reason why American divers call Stegostoma tigrinum "zebra shark" but the rest of the world (diving warmer water and hence never in touch with the triakis semifasciata) just call them "Leopard shark"...
Stegostoma tigrinum Zebra Shark AKA False Leopard Shark (adult)
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Triakis semifasciata - Leopard Shark (Adult)
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So what does Zebra Shark (or false leopard shark) look like when they are younger?
Rarely photographed in the wild, Zebra sharks look black with white zebra marking at birth and develop their "leopard" patterns after a few weeks.
Rarely photographed in the wild, Zebra sharks look black with white zebra marking at birth and develop their "leopard" patterns after a few weeks.
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The Zebra Shark can be found in the shallow waters all around the Indian Ocean and West Pacific from South Africa to the Red Sea, from India to North Australia and from china to New Caledonia and Southern Japan. They usually hang out on sandy batches near coral reef where they can find their food.
Map of zebra shark habitat by Sharksider.com
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The Zebra Shark is known for its foraging habits; it feeds and moves mostly at night, foraging for crabs, sea urchins, small fish, snails, and other invertebrates hiding in holes and crevices. They have great whisker-like organs (barbels, in front of their snout, helping them seek out their prey). They are also equipped with smallmouth and strong gill muscles to snatch up prey but are not as strong as active fish hunter as many other sharks. They prefer to rest on the ocean floor during the daytime, where they can breathe and pump water through their gills while remaining motionless. When there are strong water currents, they might seem to be surfing as they adjust their fins to stay motionless in the open water.
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Stegostoma tigrinum usually live a solitary life and only seek each other during the mating seasons. During courtship, the male Zebra Shark will follow the female, bite vigorously at her pectoral fin and tails, with occasions where he holds her fins down. These usually happen at the bottom, and a long time before, the male curls its body around the female’s and joins his claspers with her cloaca. The mating usually lasts about five minutes. Females lay about four eggs at a time, but some studies show they can lay up to 46 eggs over 112 days. The egg cases are usually between brown and dark purple, with fine hairs around, helping them stay anchored or secured when developing. Eggs may hatch in between four to six months.
zebra shark couple caught during their mating dance
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zebra shark egg: Photo by Keith DP Wilson
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(CNN) A female Zebra Shark in an Australian aquarium has astounded scientists by producing live offspring asexually, three years after being separated from her long-term mate. [...] It is only the third documented case of a vertebrate of any species switching its reproductive strategy from sexual to asexual.
The shark had earlier reproduced after mating with a male, so it was shocking that it managed to lay fertilized eggs again after so many years without any sexual intercourse. This asexual reproduction - which exist in other animals’ reproduction like spotted eagle ray and Colombian rainbow boa - had never been seen in sharks before now. Studies are ongoing to understand this phenomenon, but some scientists believe that it might be a natural adaptation to the lack of sexual partners. |
Zebra shark can create clones!
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Are Zebra Sharks dangerous?
Zebra Sharks are non-aggressive, they can be easily approached when underwater. Divers visiting the Koh Bon Pinnacle or Koh Tachai in Thailand as well as North Twin in Myanmar have a good chance to meet one of these fascinating sharks. |
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How to approach them without disturbing them?!
​Zebra shark are relatively easy to approach but they will run away from you if you don't do it right! Approach them from the side, where they can see you. Dont pass on top of them or approach them from behind, if you are in their "dead angle" they will swim away. |
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​​About the Zebra Shark conservation
Today, Zebra Sharks are endangered: humans are the driving factor that might drive extinction in the future. Usually, inshore fisheries use them for their meat, which is either salt-dried or fresh. The traditional Chinese delicacy also uses Zebra Sharks, particularly its fins, for making shark fin soup, a delicacy in China. |
Is Zebra shark a fish?
​All sharks are cartilaginous fish (their skeleton is made of soft cartilage, not bones). These fish all fall into the group of fish called the elasmobranchs (like rays). |
A zebra shark poses for the photographer if correctly approached
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ZEBRA SHARK CLASSIFICATION:
LATIN NAME: Stegostoma tigrinum (fasciatum) FAMILY: Stegostomatidae PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Chondrichthyes |
We hope you liked this blogpost and found the information you were looking for. Check out our Marine life section for more fun facts about Andaman Sea life!
​What else do you know about leopard sharks? share in the comment section below!
​What else do you know about leopard sharks? share in the comment section below!
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