Zebra Shark

Stegostoma Fasciatum

Last updated: March 28, 2023
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
© Peter Halasz / Creative Commons / Original

Can get to be 30 years old in the wild!


Advertisement


Zebra Shark Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Chondrichthyes
Order
Orectolobiformes
Family
Stegostomatidae
Genus
Stegostoma
Scientific Name
Stegostoma Fasciatum

Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.

Zebra Shark Conservation Status

Zebra Shark Locations

Zebra Shark Locations

Zebra Shark Facts

Main Prey
Fish, Crabs, Snails
Optimum pH Level
7.8 - 8.4
Habitat
Tropical, coastal waters
Predators
Large Sharks, Humans
Diet
Omnivore
Average Litter Size
10
Favorite Food
Fish
Type
Salt
Slogan
Can get to be 30 years old in the wild!

Zebra Shark Physical Characteristics

Color
  • Brown
  • Grey
  • Yellow
  • Black
  • White
Skin Type
Smooth
Lifespan
15 - 20 years
Weight
16kg - 20kg (35lbs - 44lbs)

View all of the Zebra Shark images!



Share on:

While zebra shark ‘pups’ do have stripes when they are born, those actually turn into spots as they grow!

Zebra sharks are gentle fish that hang around coral reefs in tropical oceans. They spend their days sleeping and their evenings leisurely hunting around the sea floor and eating. Because of climate change and human activity, zebra shark numbers are in free fall.

A worldwide effort is underway to save them, and there are small things we can all do to support their survival.

86,009 People Couldn't Ace This Quiz

Think You Can?

Five Fascinating Zebra Shark Facts

zebra shark

Leopard

sharks and zebra sharks are frequently mistaken for one another by people.

©iStock.com/WhitcombeRD



  • For years, a population of zebra sharks has been gathering at an annual summer summit that continues to mystify scientists to this day.
  • Female zebra sharks don’t need men to reproduce. They can do it on their own!
  • People often confuse leopard sharks and zebra sharks.
  • The longest zebra shark ever recorded was 11 feet long.
  • Zebra sharks are incredibly flexible and slim and can forage in narrow crevices.

Evolution and Origins

Zebra sharks are found in the warm tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, which includes areas ranging from South Africa to the Red Sea, Madagascar, the Maldives, India, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Japan, New Caledonia, and Tonga.

Thanks to their agile bodies, zebra sharks are capable of squeezing into tight spaces, gaps, and crevices within coral reefs in search of concealed prey.

Once they find food, the shark’s small mouth, thick throat, and strong gill muscles allow it to suction the prey in.

Additionally, sharks employ various reproductive strategies, such as live birth in some species or egg-laying, as in the case of the zebra shark, which produces protective cases called mermaids purses.

Scientific Name

In the realm of marine taxonomy, determining the correct scientific name for zebra sharks is akin to the age-old “tastes-great-vs-less-filling” beer argument.

©Peter Halasz / Creative Commons

The proper scientific name for zebra sharks is like the tastes-great-vs-less-filling beer debate of the marine taxonomy world. The majority of scientists use Stegostoma fasciatum. However, another school of thought believes Stegostoma varium is the right choice. A 2019 taxonomic review complicated matters when it concluded that Stegostoma tigrinum is the correct term.

Stegostoma is a portmanteau (a word made up of two other words) of the Greek words “stego” and “stoma,” meaning “covered” and “mouth,” respectively. Fasciatum also derives from Greek and means “banded,” a reference to baby zebra sharks’ stripes.

Zebra sharks are sometimes mistaken for and called “leopard sharks” because adults of the species lose their stripes and gain spots.

Appearance and Behavior

Zebra sharks possess flat heads with tiny eyes on either side, short snouts filled with 50 to 65 teeth, and cylindrical bodies capable of acrobatic twisting and turning.

©Line1 / Creative Commons

Appearance

Zebra sharks have flat heads with itty-bitty eyes on either side, short snout mouths jammed with 50 to 65 teeth, and cylindrical bodies that can twist and turn like an acrobat.

They typically grow to a length of 2.5 meters (8.2 feet), and the current record for the longest adult is 3.5 meters (11 feet) — twice the height of actor Danny Devito!

At birth, zebra sharks sport dark brown skin on top, yellowish bellies, and vertical yellow stripes. As they grow, the stripes separate into spots. Marine biologists believe the stripes serve as camouflage for newborns.

zebra shark -Stegostoma fasciatum - zebra shark swimming near coral
Sharks are usually associated with being aggressive and dangerous, but zebra sharks are known for their relaxed and calm demeanor.

Behavior

We generally think of sharks as aggressive and deadly, but zebra sharks mellow to a chiller vibe. They spend most of the day snoozing on the ocean floor and face the current to facilitate low-effort breathing. Then, at dusk, zebra sharks sluggishly rise and spend the night slowly swishing around in search of food.

For the most part, zebra sharks are loners who gather together every once in a while. Quizzically, every summer, several hundred zebra sharks convene in shallow waters off the coast of Queensland. Thrice as many females show up, but no mating appears to happen. Though it’s been studied, the ritual has left scientists stumped.

Zebra sharks are generally gentle with humans and let us get close. They’ll even take food right out of a diver’s hands and let themselves be petted! Just don’t take it too far, they can become aggressive when annoyed.

Unlike many other species, zebra sharks adapt well to captivity and are prominent features in many large aquariums around the world.

Habitat

Zebra sharks roam the tropical waters around Madagascar, Maldives, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Palau, Taiwan, Japan, New Caledonia, Tonga, and Australia. As bottom-dwelling animals that can live up to depths of 200 feet, they mostly hang out around coral reefs, sandy areas, and marine rubble. Zebra sharks primarily live in ocean water but have been spotted tooling around freshwater basins on occasion.

Diet

What do zebra sharks eat? Shelled mollusks, snails, sea urchins, crabs, squid, crustaceans, small bony fish, and sea snakes are on the zebra shark menu. And thanks to their flexible and svelte bodies, zebra sharks can slink into nooks and crannies when foraging for them.

Zebra sharks don’t just chew their food. Instead, their mouths are equipped with powerful suction mechanisms that act as vortex vacuums that suck in prey in one gulp. To uncover food, they have whisker-like organs on their snouts called “barbels” that serve as sustenance sensors.

Predators and Threats

Save for a few large shark species — like tiger sharks and bull sharks — zebra sharks have few natural predators. Humans, however, are a huge threat. In some regions, poachers have free reign to hunt them for fins and liver oil. The former is for a delicacy called “fin soup”; the latter is used in vitamins.

Habitat encroachment presents another fatal problem for zebra sharks, as does the erosion and debasement of coral reefs.

Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan

In the mating season, male zebra sharks pursue females and demonstrate their attraction by nipping at their tails.

©mjwinoz / Creative Commons

Reproduction

During mating season, male zebra sharks chase females and show interest by snapping at their tails. When a match meets, the male grasps the female’s pectoral fins, and they attach. The pair then lies still together for a while on the ocean floor. Eventually, the male wraps himself around the female and inserts one of his claspers (modifications of the pelvic fins) into her cloaca for a few minutes.

Females lay about four brown or purplish eggs at one time, which are ringed with a light layer of hair that clings to the nesting surface. Each breeding season, a single female may lay up to 46 eggs over 112 days.

Depending on the temperature, eggs incubate for five to six months and burst into the world as 20- to 30-centimeter-long (7.9- to 14.2-inch-long) hatchlings.

Fascinatingly, zebra shark females can reproduce without males. It’s called parthenogenesis, which means reproduction without fertilization. Two well-documented incidents involve Leonie, a female zebra shark in Australia, and Zebedee, the lady resident zebra shark in a restaurant aquarium at the world’s most luxurious resort in Dubai. Both females haven’t been around males for years but managed to lay eggs that successfully hatched.

Babies

Baby zebra sharks are called “pups” and come into the world looking very different than what they’ll grow up to be. At hatching, they’re between 20 and 30 centimeters (7.9 to 14.2 inches) long and are sometimes mistaken for baby bullhead sharks that also sport yellow stripes on brown skin.

Lifespan

What is the lifespan of a zebra shark? When spared from habitat destruction and other fatal conditions spawned by human encroachment, zebra sharks can live between 25 and 30 years. Some reports suggest that they may live shorter lives in captivity.

Population


Zebra sharks are under threat from overfishing and habitat loss. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the species as Endangered, except for the Australian coastal population, which doesn’t face poaching or overfishing threats and is therefore listed in the Least Concern category.

In 2008, the AZA Marine Fish Taxon Advisory Group urged zoos and conservation programs to develop species survival plans and managed breeding programs for zebra sharks. Interested parties took to the task and implemented collaborative initiatives. As a result, there is now an international zebra shark studbook that helps zoos and aquariums facilitate breeding and transfer schedules to maintain genetic diversity.

View all 14 animals that start with Z

Share on:
About the Author

Rebecca is an experienced Professional Freelancer with nearly a decade of expertise in writing SEO Content, Digital Illustrations, and Graphic Design. When not engrossed in her creative endeavors, Rebecca dedicates her time to cycling and filming her nature adventures. When not focused on her passion for creating and crafting optimized materials, she harbors a deep fascination and love for cats, jumping spiders, and pet rats.

Zebra Shark FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Are Zebra Sharks Herbivores, Carnivores, or Omnivores?

Zebra Sharks are omnivores, meaning they eat both meat and plants. However, they mainly stick to seafood and will settle for marine flora in a desperate pinch.

Are Zebra Sharks Dangerous?

In 2008, an unprovoked zebra shark attacked a human. Thankfully, the incident didn’t result in injuries, but it did shock the marine world because zebra sharks are usually exceptionally docile creatures that play well with people. Most researchers believe the attack was an outlier and still characterize zebra sharks as safe and gentle animals.

Where Do Zebra Sharks Live?

Zebra sharks live in Indo-Pacific waters. Their range stretches from the western part of the Pacific Ocean from Australia to Japan to the countries bordering the Indian Ocean and Red Sea.

Are Leopard Sharks and Zebra Sharks the Same?

No, leopard sharks and zebra sharks are not the same species. They are, however, often confused because of their similar spotted patterns as adults.

What Can I Do To Help Zebra Sharks?

Zebra sharks are facing tough times. To ensure their survival, pitch in by not buying any products that lead to overfishing the animal, including shark meat, shark cartilage pills, or shark fin soup.

What Kingdom do Zebra Sharks belong to?

Zebra Sharks belong to the Kingdom Animalia.

What phylum do Zebra Sharks belong to?

Zebra Sharks belong to the phylum Chordata.

What class do Zebra Sharks belong to?

Zebra Sharks belong to the class Chondrichthyes.

What family do Zebra Sharks belong to?

Zebra Sharks belong to the family Stegostomatidae.

What order do Zebra Sharks belong to?

Zebra Sharks belong to the order Orectolobiformes.

What genus do Zebra Sharks belong to?

Zebra Sharks belong to the genus Stegostoma.

What type of covering do Zebra Sharks have?

Zebra Sharks are covered in Smooth skin.

What is the main prey for Zebra Sharks?

Zebra Sharks prey on fish, crabs, and snails.

What are some predators of Zebra Sharks?

Predators of Zebra Sharks include large sharks and humans.

What is the average litter size for a Zebra Shark?

The average litter size for a Zebra Shark is 10.

What is an interesting fact about Zebra Sharks?

Zebra Sharks can live for up to 30 years in the wild!

What is the scientific name for the Zebra Shark?

The scientific name for the Zebra Shark is Stegostoma Fasciatum.

What is the lifespan of a Zebra Shark?

Zebra Sharks can live for 15 to 20 years.

What is the optimal pH for a Zebra Shark?

The optimal pH for a Zebra Shark is between 7.8 and 8.4.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

Sources
  1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2011) Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife
  2. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals
  3. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia
  4. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species
  5. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals
  6. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals

Newly Added Animals

A Cobalt Blue Tarantula
Cobalt Blue Tarantula

Cobalt blue tarantulas spend most of their time in self-dug burrows and only emerge when it's time to eat

A Dried Fruit Moth
Dried Fruit Moth

In the event of adverse environmental conditions, dried fruit moth larvae will become dormant and stop developing.

Most Recently Updated Animals

A Cobalt Blue Tarantula
Cobalt Blue Tarantula

Cobalt blue tarantulas spend most of their time in self-dug burrows and only emerge when it's time to eat

A Dried Fruit Moth
Dried Fruit Moth

In the event of adverse environmental conditions, dried fruit moth larvae will become dormant and stop developing.