Why do young zebra sharks look so different from adults?

Juveniles are patterned with bold dark stripes, while adults develop a spotted, leopard-like pattern — the difference is so striking that the two life stages were once mistaken for different species.

Is the zebra shark dangerous to humans?

No. It is a docile, slow-moving bottom feeder that preys on mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish, and poses essentially no threat to divers.

How long do zebra sharks live?

They are estimated to live around 25-30 years in the wild.

Zebra Sharkトラフザメ

Stegostoma tigrinumEN— Endangered

The zebra shark is a slow-moving, bottom-dwelling reef shark whose striped juveniles and leopard-spotted adults look so different they were once classified as separate species; it is a common, docile sight in aquariums worldwide.

Zebra Shark (reference photo) — Photo: daryl_mitchell / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Orectolobiformes / Stegostomatidae Source
Size: Said to reach a total length of about 3.5 m, with a record of 354 cm
Lifespan: Thought to be about 25–30 years in the wild
Diet: Carnivore Preys mainly on mollusks, crustaceans, and small bony fish, and is also said to eat sea snakes
Distribution: Found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific from South Africa to the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Japan, New Caledonia, Tonga, and northern Australia, inhabiting coral reefs no deeper than about 60 m. Source
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

Juveniles are boldly striped and look so different from the spotted adults that they were once thought to be a separate species. Source
It is relatively easy to keep in captivity and is displayed in many aquariums worldwide, but because individual populations move very little between reefs, they are especially vulnerable to localized overfishing. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 3

Kagoshima City AquariumKagoshimaFrom Kagoshima-Chuo Station, take the tram (Route 2) to the Suizokukan-guchi stop and walk 8 minutes.

Source

Sunshine AquariumTokyoFrom Ikebukuro Station (Exit 35), walk along Sunshine 60 Street.

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Osaka Aquarium KaiyukanOsakaOpened in 1990

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Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Endangered (EN)

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

Support Conservation

A visit is a small, positive way to support the daily lives of the animals you care about.

Visit: A visit itself helps support the facility.
Animal Supporter Programs & Giving: Find ways to support the facility through its official website.
Furusato Nozei: Municipally run facilities may share official guidance for this Japanese hometown-tax program.

FAQ

Why do young zebra sharks look so different from adults?: Juveniles are patterned with bold dark stripes, while adults develop a spotted, leopard-like pattern — the difference is so striking that the two life stages were once mistaken for different species. Source
Is the zebra shark dangerous to humans?: No. It is a docile, slow-moving bottom feeder that preys on mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish, and poses essentially no threat to divers. Source
How long do zebra sharks live?: They are estimated to live around 25-30 years in the wild. Source
How many operating facilities are registered here?: Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 3 Source

Books & gear

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org