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Blog about diving in Burma and Thailand

Zebra shark: one of the cutest sharks in the indian ocean!

12/5/2021

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Meet the Zebra Shark also known in Thailand as Leopard Shark

Get to know the Zebra 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?

Zebra Sharks or Leopard Shark?

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"...
Leopard Shark
Stegostoma tigrinum Zebra Shark AKA False Leopard Shark (adult)
Real Leopard Shark
Triakis semifasciata - Leopard Shark (Adult)
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.
Picture
Picture

Where can Zebra Sharks be found?

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
Map of zebra shark habitat by Sharksider.com
Photo a zebra shark

The Zebra shark diet: what do they eat?

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.
Zebra shark on the reef...
Picture

Zebra shark reproduction?

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.
leopard shark mating
zebra shark couple caught during their mating dance
reproduction of zebra shark
Picture
zebra shark egg: Photo by Keith DP Wilson

Zebra shark asexual reproduction?

(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 blogpost
Zebra shark can create clones!

Are zebra sharks dangerous? How to approach them?

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.
Zebra shark on coral reef
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.
Zebra shark in the blue...

About Zebra Sharks conservation?

​​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 and its beautiful blue eyes
A zebra shark poses for the photographer if correctly approached
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!


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Camille Fogarolo 

Camille has been traveling the world since her mid twenties and dived many seas before finally settling down in Thailand in 2012. With her husband Franck, they opened The Smiling Seahorse liveaboard to offer cruises in the most unexplored area of South East Asia and became quite the experts when it comes to diving in Myanmar! Proud mother of two she still travels as much as she can and usually joins a dive trip to Mergui Archipelago every month.

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  • When & Where
    • Schedule and Prices
    • Destinations >
      • North Andaman Thailand >
        • Similan Islands
        • Surin Islands >
          • Richelieu rock
        • The essential Underwater photo Guide to diving Thailand
      • South Andaman Thailand
      • Mergui Archipelago >
        • Marine life in the Andaman Sea
        • Burma's best dive sites
        • The Ultimate Underwater photo Guide to diving Burma
  • ABOUT
    • Our Boat >
      • DELICIOUS FOOD
    • Guest Book
    • Diving in Thailand in 2022-2023 >
      • Ranong Departures >
        • 3D Thailand: Surin National Park
        • 4D3N North Andaman Ranong-Khao Lak
        • 5D Thailand: Surin and Similan
        • 5D North Andaman Ranong-Khao Lak
        • 6D Thailand: Surin and Similan end to Ranong
        • 7D Thailand: All of Surin and Similan
        • 8D Thailand: North & South
        • Alternative itineraries for full charter >
          • 4D4N Evening to morning - Surin Similan
      • Khao Lak Departures >
        • 5D North Andaman from Khao Lak to Phuket
        • 5D North Andaman: All of Surin and Similan
        • 5D North Andaman Khaolak - Ranong
        • 6D North Andaman: All of Surin and Similan
        • 6D North Andaman: From Khao Lak to Ranong
        • 7D North Andaman: All of Surin and Similan
        • 7D North Khao Lak to Khao Lak
        • 8D North & South Andaman Thailand
      • Phuket departures >
        • 5D North Andaman from Phuket
        • 5D South Andaman: Lanta and Tarutao National Parks
        • 6D North Andaman: Phuket to Khao Lak
        • 8D Thailand: South & North
        • 8D Andaman South & North Phuket-Ranong
    • Blackwater diving in Thailand
    • Marine life in Thailand's Andaman Sea
    • Diving in Myanmar | Burma dive cruises >
      • 6D Burma : South Mergui Archipelago
      • 7D Burma: dive Black Rock
      • 8D Burma: Undiscovered Mergui
      • 9D Burma: Exploration trip
    • Dive Courses >
      • Learn to Dive
      • Continue diving education
      • Rescue diver
      • Professional Dive Courses
      • Hone your dive skills with a PADI specialty course
      • Photo coaching in Thailand on the Smiling Seahorse
    • FAQ
  • Plan your trip
    • Our hotels recommendations
    • Khao Sok National Park
    • Taxi services >
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      • Taxi services to Tap Lamu and Khao Lak
    • 10 things to do around Ranong
    • Covid-19 news & infos >
      • COVID-19 update travel to Thailand
      • Covid-19 protection on-board
  • PROMO
    • HOT DEALS
    • Manta rays expedition - 19 Mar 2023
    • Ultimate Underwater photo combo expeditions
    • Blackwater expedition 23 Jan 2024
    • UW Photo clinic North Andaman 31 Jan 2024
    • Special Marine Biology - 18 Feb 2024
    • Whale Shark Special - 19 Mar 2024 - North and South
    • Manta rays expedition - 20 April 2024
  • gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG
    • Most popular posts