# Zebra Shark (*stegostoma fasciatum*) The Zebra Shark is a unique fish with beautiful stripes that look like a zebra! They love to swim around coral reefs and can often be seen resting on the sea floor. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Zebra Sharks live in warm, shallow waters around coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. - **Also known as:** Bamboo Shark, Stegostoma Shark ![Zebra Shark](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sphyrna_mokarran_at_georgia.jpg&width=800) Photo: Josh Hallett from Winter Haven, FL, USA, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sphyrna_mokarran_at_georgia.jpg) ## Appearance The Zebra Shark has a cylindrical body that is yellowish-brown with dark spots as an adult. Juveniles, however, have striking dark stripes on a lighter body. It is easily recognized by its very long, ribbon-like tail fin, almost as long as its body. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Elasmobranchii - **Order:** Orectolobiformes - **Family:** Stegostomatidae - **Genus:** Stegostoma ## Interesting facts - A female Zebra Shark can reproduce all by herself, without a male, in a rare process called parthenogenesis! - Baby Zebra Sharks are born striped, but as they grow, their stripes magically turn into spots! - Its long tail can be nearly half its entire body length, helping it to swim and maneuver. - This shark can 'walk' on its pectoral fins across the ocean floor, almost like a seal. ## Special abilities - **Spotty Camouflage:** Zebra Shark has a spotted pattern that helps them blend perfectly with sandy seabeds and coral reefs, hiding from predators and prey. - **Still Breather:** Zebra Shark can pump water over its gills even when lying still, allowing them to rest comfortably on the ocean floor. - **Crevice Crawler:** Zebra Shark has a flexible, slender body that helps them squeeze into tight spaces and navigate intricate coral reef structures. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 200-300 cm - **Weight:** 20-40 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-25 years - **Swim Speed:** 8 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 60 m - **Water Type:** Saltwater ## Diet & Feeding This bottom-dwelling shark loves to munch on small, crunchy shellfish and tiny fish hidden in the sand. - **Primary Foods:** crabs, shrimp, octopuses, snails, small bony fish - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Big Blue Octopus (*Octopus cyanea*) — Preys on octopuses found in reef crevices. - **Hunts:** Giant Tiger Prawn (*Penaeus monodon*) — Searches sandy bottoms for various shrimp species. - **Hunts:** Orange-spotted Spinefoot (*Siganus guttatus*) — Feeds on small fish found hiding near reef structures. - **Eaten by:** [Tiger Shark](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tiger-shark) (*Galeocerdo cuvier*) — Larger sharks occasionally prey on juvenile or smaller adults. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Zebra Shark? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Zebra Shark? 200-300 cm ### How much does Zebra Shark weigh? 20-40 kg ### How long does Zebra Shark live? 15-25 years ### What does Zebra Shark eat? This bottom-dwelling shark loves to munch on small, crunchy shellfish and tiny fish hidden in the sand. ### How fast can Zebra Shark swim? 8 km/h ### Where is Zebra Shark usually found? Zebra Sharks live in warm, shallow waters around coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. ### How does Zebra Shark hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Shedd Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shedd-aquarium) — Illinois, US · Aquarium - [Albuquerque Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albuquerque-aquarium) — New Mexico, US · Zoo - [Shedd Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shedd-aquarium-illinois) — Illinois, US · Zoo - [Waikiki Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/waikiki-aquarium) — Hawaii, US · Zoo - [Columbus Zoo and Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/columbus-zoo-and-aquarium) — Ohio, US · Aquarium - [New York Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/new-york-aquarium-new-york) — New York, US · Aquarium [View all places to see Zebra Shark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/zebra-shark) ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Zebra Shark: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/zebra-shark)