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Zebra Shark
Zebra Shark Facts
| Kingdom: Five groups that classify all living things | Animalia |
| Phylum: A group of animals within the animal kingdom | Chordata |
| Class: A group of animals within a pylum | Chondrichthyes |
| Order: A group of animals within a class | Orectolobiformes |
| Family: A group of animals within an order | Stegostomatidae |
| Genus: A group of animals within a family | Stegostoma |
| Scientific Name: The name of the animal in science | Stegostoma Fasciatum |
| Origin: The area where the animal first came from | Indian and Pacific Oceans |
| Diet: What kind of foods the animal eats | Omnivore |
| Size: How long (L) or tall (H) the animal is | 0.6m - 2.5m (2ft - 8.2ft) |
| Weight: The measurement of how heavy the animal is | 16kg - 20kg (35lbs - 44lbs) |
| Type: The animal group that the species belongs to | Salt |
| Optimum pH Level: The perfect acidity conditions for the animal | 7.8 - 8.4 |
| Lifespan: How long the animal lives for | 15 - 20 years |
| Conservation Status: The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct | Threatened |
| Colour: The colour of the animal's coat or markings | Brown, Black, Yellow, White, Grey |
| Skin Type: The protective layer of the animal | Smooth |
| Favourite Food: The preferred food of this animal | Fish |
| Habitat: The specific area where the animal lives | Tropical, coastal waters |
| Average Litter Size: The average number of babies born at once | 10 |
| Main Prey: The food that the animal gains energy from | Fish, Crabs, Snails |
| Predators: Other animals that hunt and eat the animal | Large Sharks, Humans |
| Special Features: Characteristics unique to this animal | Flattened body shape and long tail fin |
Zebra Shark Location
Zebra Shark
The zebra shark is a medium-sized species of shark, that is found in the warmer coastal waters and around tropical coral reefs. Zebra sharks are most commonly found in the Indian and South Pacific oceans.Zebra sharks can grow to nearly 3 meters in length and can get to be 30 years old in the wild. Zebra sharks that are kept in captivity generally do not exceed 15 years of age. Zebra sharks can be identified by the yellow spots that are present on the back of the zebra shark.
Zebra sharks have a long, flattened body which helps them to remain unnoticed on the seabed. The zebra shark also has a long tail which allows it to be more agile in the water. Zebra sharks move their tails from side to side when they swim, in an eel-like manner.
Zebra sharks are omnivorous animals but tend to have a more meat-based diet. Zebra sharks feed on small fish, crabs, shrimp, snails and other small invertebrates along with squid and sea snakes which they forage for in the coral reefs.
Due to their relatively large size, zebra sharks have few natural predators as they are fairly dominant predators in their environment. Larger species of shark such as tiger sharks and bull sharks are the main predators of the zebra shark, along with humans who hunt them for their meat and fins.
The female zebra shark lays an average of ten large eggs which hatch after an incubation period of around 5 months. The baby zebra sharks are nearly half a meter long when they first hatch.
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First Published: 2nd November 2009, Last Updated: 10th September 2018
1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 02 Nov 2009]
2. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2011]
3. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 02 Nov 2009]
4. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species [Accessed at: 02 Nov 2009]
5. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 02 Nov 2009]
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