Zebra shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)

Scientific name: Stegostoma fasciatum Hermann, 1783

Zebra shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)

The Zebra shark (Stegostoma fasciatum) is a brackish-water fish of the family Stegostomatidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 26–29°C (79–84°F). Native range: Indo-West Pacific, Red Sea and East Africa to New Caledonia, north to southern Japan, south to New South Wales, Australia. Recently recorded from Tonga.

Zebra shark care at a glance

Temperature
26–29°C (79–84°F)

Biology

A tropical inshore shark found on sand, rubble, or coral bottoms of the continental and insular shelves. Recorded to have entered freshwater. Rather sluggish at least during the day. Probably nocturnal, feeds mainly on mollusks, but also small bony fishes. Also known to eat crustaceans and sea snakes. Oviparous. Slow-swimming and able to squirm into narrow cracks, crevices and channel in reefs while searching for food. Readily kept in captivity. May bite when provoked. Utilized fresh and dried-salted for human consumption and also for fishmeal; livers processed for vitamins; fins dried for the oriental sharkfin trade; offal utilized for fishmeal. Possibly reaching 354 cm TL. Caught in drift ne

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Stegostoma fasciatum
Family
Stegostomatidae (Zebra sharks)
Order
Orectolobiformes (Carpet sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
354
Depth range
0–63 m (0–207 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; amphidromous; depth range 0 - 63 m, usually 5 - 30 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to New Caledonia, north to southern Japan, south to New South Wales, Australia. Recently recorded from Tonga.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Vulnerable (VU)(A2abcd+3cd+4abcd)
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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