Zebra shark diagram8/13/2023 ![]() ![]() The couple then remains motionless together on the ocean floor for some time.Ī few minutes later, the male wraps himself around the female and puts one of his claspers (modified pelvic fins) into her cloaca.ġ9. Males bond with females by grabbing their pectoral fins as they encounter. During mating season, male zebra sharks pursue females and demonstrate their desire by biting their tails. The zebra shark’s diet consists of mollusks, sea urchins, snails, squids, crabs, crustaceans, tiny bony fish, and sea snakes.Īnd because of their flexible and slender bodies, zebra sharks are able to slink into crevices when looking for prey.ġ8. ![]() There are three times as many females present, yet no mating appears to occur.Īlthough the ceremony has been investigated, it has left experts baffled.ġ7. Each summer, hundreds of zebra sharks congregate in shallow seas off the coast of Queensland. Zebra sharks are mostly solitary animals that occasionally form groups. They will even take food from a diver’s hand and let themselves be petted!ġ6. In general, zebra sharks are tolerant of humans and allow us to approach them. Zebra sharks have flat heads with little eyes on each side, short snout mouths with 50 to 65 teeth, and cylindrical bodies that can twist and twirl like an acrobat.ġ5. They can do it by themselves, and the process is called parthenogenesis!ġ4. Female zebra sharks may spawn without males. Zebra sharks may forage for food in tight crevices, but they are also quite sedentary and spend much of their time resting on the bottom.ġ3. Zebra Shark Facts for Kids 12-22 By Theo Kruse CC BY-SA 3.0, Linkġ2. However, zebra sharks have also been observed in brackish and freshwater environments. Zebra sharks are sometimes mistaken for leopard sharks due to the fact that they are born dark brown with white bars across their body but grow into bright yellow with little black patches.ġ1. In aquaria, zebra sharks attain a maximum length of over 8 feet (2.5 m) and live for over 28 years.ġ0. Typically, zebra sharks are found on sand near coral and rocky reefs as deep as 63 meters (203 feet) (62 m).ĩ. The exception is Australia, where the species is regarded as Least Concern because of its extensive range and light fishing pressure.Įvery summer, hundreds of zebra sharks gather in the shallow seas off the coast of southeast Queensland.Ĩ. ![]() IUCN lists zebra sharks as globally Endangered because they are hunted for their flesh, fins, and liver oil (which is used to make vitamins). Adult zebra sharks are non-aggressive toward people and have few natural predators except larger shark species and humans.ħ. ![]() Pups are typically approximately 12 inches long at birth, while adults may reach heights of 12 feet.Ħ. Females may produce many eggs simultaneously, which they attach to underwater objects or the seafloor via sticky threads. The male zebra shark engages in courting by aggressively biting the female’s pectoral fins and tail.ĥ. They utilize their flexible bodies to squeeze into narrow crevices where their preferred prey is frequently hidden.Ĥ. Barbels, which are slender sensory organs that resemble cat whiskers and are positioned in front of their snouts, assist them to find prey. At night, they vigorously search reef cracks and holes for mollusks, crabs, and tiny bony fish.ĭuring the day, they are slow and are frequently observed resting on the ocean floor.ģ. Zebra sharks are born with stripes that are dark brown and golden.Īs zebra sharks mature, their stripes are replaced with little black spots on a tan body.Ģ. tigrinum Zebra Shark Facts for Kids 1-11ġ. Scientific Classification of Zebra Sharks Let’s learn about these fish in our article, zebra shark facts for kids. The zebra shark population is plummeting due to climate change and human activity. They spend their days resting and their evenings foraging and feeding on the ocean floor. Zebra sharks are calm fish that frequent tropical coral reefs. ![]()
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