Zebra Shark
Stegostoma tigrinum · steg-oh-STOH-ma ty-GRY-num
nocturnalsolitaryEndangered
EdibleFriendly
Superpower
Slender enough to wriggle into narrow reef crevices after hidden shellfish.
At a glance
- Size
- typically 180 cm, up to 250 cm
- Lifespan
- 25–30 years
- Depth
- 0–90 m
Habitat
Sandy bottoms and coral rubble near reefs.
Diet
Snails, shellfish, small fish and crabs.
Can I eat it?
Yes — edible · tastiness 3/10.
How to cook: Taken in some fisheries; flesh and fins sold.
Fun facts
- Young zebra sharks have stripes; adults are covered in spots, so they're also called leopard sharks.
- Females can sometimes lay fertile eggs without a male.
- It rests motionless on the seabed, facing into the current to breathe.