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This species is sometimes called the leopard shark, a name otherwise used for Triakis semifasciata. The leopard shark, Triakis semifasciata, is a Hound shark found in the coastal waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, along the coast
Zebra shark

Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Orectolobiformes
Family: Stegostomatidae
Gill, 1862
Genus: Stegostoma
Müller & Henle, 1837
Species: S. The conservation status of a Species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species remaining extant either in the present day or the near future A vulnerable species is a Species which is likely to become endangered unless the circumstances threatening its survival and reproduction improve Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates Chondrichthyes or cartilaginous fishes are jawed Fish with paired fins paired nostrils scales two-chambered hearts and skeletons made of Cartilage rather Elasmobranchii is the subclass of Cartilaginous fish that includes Skates rays (batoidea, and sharks (selachii. The order Orectolobiformes, also collectively known as the carpet sharks because many members have carpet-like patterned markings includes a number of familiar types of Theodore Nicholas Gill ( March 21, 1837 – September 25, 1914) was an American Ichthyologist, Mammalogist, Johannes Peter Müller ( July 14, 1801 &ndash April 28, 1858) was a German Physiologist, comparative anatomist Friedrich Gustav Jakob Henle (July 9 1809 - May 13 1885 was a German Physician, Pathologist and Anatomist. fasciatum
Binomial name
Stegostoma fasciatum
(Hermann, 1783)
Range of zebra shark (in blue)
Range of zebra shark (in blue)

The zebra shark, Stegostoma fasciatum, is a common carpet shark of inshore Indo-Pacific waters notable for its very long caudal fin, nearly as long as its body. Johann, or Jean, Hermann ( December 31, 1738 in Barr, Alsace - October 4, 1800 in Strasbourg The order Orectolobiformes, also collectively known as the carpet sharks because many members have carpet-like patterned markings includes a number of familiar types of The Indo-Pacific is a biogeographic region of the earth's seas comprising the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean The Anatomy of Fish is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of Water, which is much denser than air holds a relatively small amount of dissolved It is the only species in the family Stegostomatidae and the genus Stegostoma. In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. In Biological classification, family ( Latin A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic

Contents

Common name

The name zebra shark is given because as a juvenile the shark has zebra-like stripes. A juvenile is an individual Organism that has not yet reached its Adult form Sexual maturity or size Zebras are African Equids best known for their distinctive white and black stripes When it matures these stripes change to cheetah-like spots. The cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus) is an atypical member of the cat family ( Felidae) that is unique in its speed while lacking climbing abilities Because of this change in its coloration, it may also be sometimes known as the leopard shark, a name widely used to refer to Triakis semifasciata, a small benthic shark found in the Eastern Pacific coastline of North America. The leopard shark, Triakis semifasciata, is a Hound shark found in the coastal waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, along the coast The benthic zone is the ecological region at the lowest level of a Body of water such as an Ocean or a Lake, including the sediment surface and some sub-surface

Distribution and habitat

The zebra shark is found in the tropical Western Pacific and Indian oceans at depths of about 5 to 30 m. The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International

Anatomy and appearance

It is a very sleek and slender shark, about 3. 5m (11. 5 ft) long. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit In addition to the long tail, the zebra shark has distinctive ridges running down its body. As its names suggest, it is patterned; young sharks are dark with yellowish stripes, changing to an adult pattern of a tan color with dark spots, found all over including the fins. The snout is rather rounded, with small barbels (whiskers). A barbel on a Fish is a slender whiskerlike tactile organ near the Mouth.

Zebra shark in a aquarium.
Zebra shark in a aquarium.


Behavior

The zebra shark is a slow-moving type, often just sitting on the seafloor in the vicinity of coral reefs, on sandy or rocky bottoms. Coral reefs are Aragonite structures produced by living organisms found in marine waters with little to no nutrients in the water Unlike most types of sharks, it does not need to move, and instead pumps water through its gills. This is known as the ram-jet effect.

Diet

It feeds on mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish that it sucks out of the sand at night, and is capable of wiggling through small holes and crevices in its search for food. Molluscs are animals belonging to the phylum Mollusca. There are around 250000 extant Species within the phylum with an estimated 70000 Structure of crustaceans As Arthropods crustaceans have a stiff Exoskeleton, which must be shed to allow the animal to grow ( Ecdysis or molting

Importance to humans

Zebra sharks do well in captivity, and a number of aquariums around the world have them on display. An aquarium (plural aquariums or aquaria) is a Vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which Water -dwelling Plants They are fished commercially on a small scale. They are often seen by scuba divers, and will lay still on the bottom as long as a diver does not come too close. Scuba diving is swimming underwater, or taking part in another activity while using a Scuba set. They are harmless to divers as long as they are not disturbed. In addition several aquariums have shown them to be easy learners, even teaching them to respond to touch by flapping their gills. Due to its large caudal fins, this species are a prized catch for fishermen to make shark fin soup. Shark fin soup (or shark's fin soup) is a Chinese cuisine Delicacy since Ming Dynasty, commonly served as part of a Chinese feast,

In popular culture

The male lead of Margaret Drabble's The Sea Lady is an expert on zebra sharks, which plays a substantial part in the plot. Dame Margaret Drabble (Margaret Lady Holroyd DBE, (born 5 June 1939) is an English Novelist, Biographer and

See also

References

External links

Dictionary

zebra shark

-noun

  1. a carpet shark, Stegostoma fasciatum, covered in black and white stripes resembling a zebra.
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