Zebra Shark Size report
The leopard shark (scientific name: Stegostoma tigrinum) is a warm-sea bottom-dwelling fish, mainly inhabiting the medium sharks along the continental shelf and island shelf and in the coastal waters. This marine species has a docile temperament; its traces can be seen in sandy mud bottoms, gravel bottoms, reef areas, and coral reef areas.
The zebra shark is a nocturnal benthic species and is sluggish during the day. During the day, they often lie in the sand bottom reefs, burrowing into the caves at night to feed. They are carnivorous, feeding mainly on mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish.
Zebra sharks are usually solitary, occasionally in groups of 20 to 50. They are agile swimmers and able to squeeze through cracks while prey. The following article will introduce more details about this unique shark species.
Zebra Shark Size and Characteristic
Zebra shark has a distinctive body shape: the body length can reach 3.5 meters; the body has prominent rib-like protrusions on the side, and the greatly extended caudal fin accounts for almost half of the body length. The head is nearly conical, the trunk is nearly cylindrical, and the tail is flat and long; the pelvic and anal fins are similar in shape but larger. Even though they may not look as ferocious as other sharks, the zebra shark's body is perfectly adapted for snatching up prey. Barbels, or whisker-like organs at the front of their snouts, help them seek out prey, while a flexible body allows them to wriggle in tight spaces where small fishes are often hiding.
The coloring and patterning of leopard sharks vary widely between juveniles and adults. When they were young, they were called zebra sharks, with thick black and white stripes and spots covering the whole body; when they grew up, they became light brown spots all over the body, with leopard-like patterns, hence the name leopard sharks. Zebra sharks are often confused with leopard sharks because they are born dark brown with white bars across their bodies but become light yellow with small dark spots as they mature.
Average Size of Zebra Shark
Newborn zebra sharks are 20-36 cm long. Zebra sharks have an average length between 2-3.5 meters (6.5-11.5 ft) and overall weight in the range of 20-30 kg (45-65 lbs). Adult females are usually larger than adult males. The typical lifespan of the zebra shark is between 20-30 years in the wild.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Born Size | 20-36 cm |
| Average Length | 2-3.5 m (6.5-11.5 ft) |
| Average Weight | 20-30 kg (45-65 lbs) |
| Lifespan | 20-30 years |
Living Habits
This species is distributed in the tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean, the Great Barrier Reef, the northwestern Indian Ocean, and the East and South China Seas. Zebra sharks are usually found over sand near coral and rocky reefs as deep as 203 feet (62 m). Zebra sharks can squeeze into narrow crevices to search for food, but they spend most of their time resting on the seafloor. They will have aggressive behaviors if they feel threatened and potentially dangerous. There is no record of attacking humans, and raising them in an aquarium is difficult.
Final Words
Like other sharks, the biggest threat to zebra sharks is humans, including commercial fishing, habitat destruction, and coastal development. Zebra sharks are caught by extensive inshore fisheries and are prized for their meat and fins. Although using shark fins in U.S. waters is illegal, there is a substantial trade in shark fins in unsustainable foreign fisheries that lack or have no effective shark fin bans. These practices have reduced the population of the zebra shark, which is considered an endangered species on the IUCN Red List, in most of its range.
