Stegostoma tigrinum

(Hermann, 1783)

Vernacular names
English : Zebra shark
French : Requin zèbre

Classification
Class : Elasmobranchii
Order : Orectolobiformes
Family : Stegostomatidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
The species grows to 3,50 meters in length. Round head with small mouth, lateral grooves on flanks, small dorsal fins. Adults are light beige to yellow-brown with leopard-like blotches. Juveniles have black and yellow transversal stripes.

Range and habitat
This species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, from Red Sea and East Africa to New Caledonia and Fiji, north to south Japan, south to north Australia. Lives in shallow coastal waters on rubble, sand and coral bottom, to 90 meters.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : ENDANGERED
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species has a large range but occurs in shallow coastal areas where habitat destruction and overfishing are great threats for its survival.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America, ESB in Europe

Observation

 

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