Page 123 - (DK) Super Shark Encyclopedia: And Other Creatures of the Deep

COSTUME

CHANGER

ZEBRA SHARK

The first scientists to describe this shark had only
a zebra-striped youngster to go on, which is how the
species got its name. As the shark grows bigger, it changes
its skin pattern and the stripes are replaced with
leopardlike spots. Newborn zebra sharks are especially
striking, with a distinct black body and thin white bands.
It is possible that this protects them from danger because
predators think they are banded sea snakes, which are
highly venomous. If true, this may be the only case where
a shark mimics the appearance of another kind of animal.

AT A GLANCE

• SIZE 4¾–7¾ ft (1.45–2.35 m) long
• HABITAT Shallow tropical waters near
the ocean floor—especially on coral reefs
and sandy banks; sometimes enters
brackish waters
• LOCATION Red Sea and coastal areas
of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans
• DIET Snails, small fish, crabs, shrimp,
and sea snakes

STATS AND FACTS

SIZE 8–10 in/20–26 cm (at birth)
Baby zebra sharks
in 5 10 15 20 25 30
must grow to more
than twice their
cm 20 40 60 80
hatching size before 28 in/70 cm (size when
their stripes start pattern changes from
changing to spots. stripes to spots)
CRUISING DEPTH
ft 50 100 150 200 250
MAXIMUM LIFESPAN m 20 40 60 80
30 0–203 ft ft (0–62 m)

YEARS
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