Zebra Shark

The zebra shark is characterised by having a rounded head and five gill arches. Its caudal fin is very long, almost as long as the rest of its body, and the lower lobe of its caudal fin is not well-develope

Who find it?

In Oceans Facility

General notes

This species is characterised by having a rounded head and five gill arches. Its caudal fin is very long, almost as long as the rest of its body, and the lower lobe of its caudal fin is not well-developed.
The colouring of adult specimens is brown-yellow with dark brown spots, and it has a series of longitudinal crests not found on young specimens.
Young specimens have a series of bands all over their bodies, and those measuring less than 70 cm are different: they are darker and present white stripes and spots. Pale belly. Wide, rounded pectoral fins.

Geographic distribution

It is distributed in the Red Sea, from the eastern coast of Africa to New Caledonia and Fiji, and is also found on the coast of Japan, New South Wales and the northern coast of Australia, and in the Persian Gulf.

Feeds on

Molluscs, crustaceans and small fish

Reproduction

Oviparous

Curious facts

Despite its body being completely spotted, it is known as the zebra shark because young specimens have a colouring pattern similar to zebras (dark and light stripes), which disappears as they grow.