Zebra Shark

The Zebra Shark belongs to the family Stegostomatidae. They can be found in shallow tropical waters, on a coral reef, where they can wiggle into crevices and caves looking for food.

The Zebra Sharks appearance is very distinctive. When they are first born, they look like a zebra (one of the slides will show you a picture of one). They start with a black body with white stripes. As they reach adulthood, they shed those stripes and their body turns a light yellow with dark brown spots. This is how it is confused with the Leopard Shark. When this shark was given the name, as a pup zebra sharks looked like a zebra, and leopard sharks looked like a leopard not knowing the shark would change over time.

Zebra Sharks are nocturnal foragers. During the day they can be seen on the sandy bottoms, facing the current, lying very still, allowing the current to pump water over their gills so they are able to breathe while being still. When it’s time to hunt, because their bodies are flexible and they have those whiskers in front, they can sense prey and squeeze into crevices where prey is hiding.

Although they have small mouths, their gills have very strong muscles that will easily suck prey into their mouth in one gulp.

These sharks are not aggressive at all. Actually, very sweet. In the last photo I got to get into the pool with some and feed them at Georgia Aquarium. Best experience!

✨

✨

#sharks #zebrashark #oceanfacts #educate #themoreyouknow #marinezoologist #marinelife #oceancreatures #animalfacts #animals #oceananimals #animallover #sealife #seaanimals #ocean #marineconservation #keeptheseaplasticfree #wildlifeseekers #wildlifeconservation #savetheocean #savetheplanet #marinebiology #oceanography #zoology #zoologist #explore #explorepage #tarimahthezoologist

🐬🐋🦈🐡🐙🐧🦦🐠🦑