![]() ![]() Special tissue in the jaws continually makes sets of teeth, and the new teeth automatically move forward to replace the older ones. Because sharks’ teeth are only loosely attached to their jaws, they may lose or break teeth as they feed. ![]() The teeth have a large central, triangular cusp with a smaller cusp on either side. The zebra/leopard shark feeds on snails and bivalves, crabs and shrimp, and some small fishes. It is often found sitting quietly on the seafloor, actively pumping water through the mouth and over the gills, which are located in five small slits on each side of the head. Unlike many sharks, the zebra/leopard shark does not need to swim constantly in order to ventilate its gills. The scales, called denticles, are tooth-like in structure and very firmly embedded in the skin. Like other sharks, the zebra/leopard shark has a skeleton of flexible cartilage, reinforced with some mineral deposits. It has a very flexible body and fins and can squirm into narrow cracks, crevices and reef channels when searching for food. The head is broad and conical with a very rounded snout. The zebra/leopard shark has a somewhat cylindrical body with prominent ridges on its sides. It is a slow-moving, even sluggish shark, and it is generally considered to be relatively harmless. Though it may reach nearly 12 feet (3.6 m) in total length, its long tail makes up roughly half of its length. When young, the zebra reef shark is dark with yellowish bars. This shark’s two names are derived from the color patterns found at different stages of its life. Its distribution ranges from South Africa to the Red Sea, from Pakistan, India and Southeast Asia to China, Indonesia and the Philippines, from Australia to New Caledonia, and north to southern Japan. It is found on and adjacent to coral reefs, usually in areas of sandy seafloor. They have been known to bite only if people interfere with their swimming or attempt to mount them, although no bites have been recorded as fatal.The zebra shark, or leopard shark as it is sometimes known, is a common shallow water species of the Indian Ocean and west-Pacific region. Usually docile and slow they are fine to be left alone to get on with their lives. The offspring can measure up to 14 inches (36 cm) in length, much of this length is made up by their tails which are proportionally longer when they’re first born. The eggs usually hatch after an incubation period of between 4 and 12 weeks depending on where they are laid. Each of these eggs can be up to 7 inches (17 cm) long. The female zebra shark lays up to ten large eggs at a time. Of course, there is one other predator – man, who hunts them for their fins and meat. In fact they are dominant predators in their environments and their only predators tend to be larger species of shark such as the bull and tiger sharks. They forage for their prey among the coral reefs.Īs a larger oceanic species, the zebra shark has very few predators. They feed on small fish, crabs, crustaceans, sea snails and other invertebrates. Zebra sharks are 100% carnivorous and solely eat meat. They are also sometimes called leopard sharks although there is another species by that name. When younger they have dark bodies with yellowish stripes but when they get older they look more like leopards with yellow bodies and dark spots. They are recognizable by their spots, but their coloring changes quite significantly as they age. When swimming, they move their tales from side to side in an eel-like motion, looking very graceful. They also have long tails which increase their agility in the water. Zebra sharks have long flat bodies which help camouflage them on the ocean floor. Sadly, if they are caught and kept in zoos they are unlikely to live any longer than 15 years. They can grow up to 11 feet (3.3 m) in length and can live up to 30 years in the wild. They are commonly found in the Indian and South Pacific oceans. It is found in warm coastal waters and among tropical coral reefs. The zebra shark is a medium sized member of the shark family with distinctive markings. ![]()
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