Zebra shark
A carpet shark with changing patterns, found in Indo-Pacific reefs.
The zebra shark is a species of carpet shark and the only living member of its family. It lives in tropical Indo-Pacific waters, where it hunts at night on coral reefs and sandy flats.
- Only living member of the Stegostomatidae family.
- Juveniles have vertical stripes; adults have dark spots.
- Lays large egg cases anchored to reef structures.
- Assessed as Endangered by the IUCN.
- Hunts nocturnally in coral reef crevices.
What it is
The zebra shark belongs to the carpet shark group and stands alone as the sole surviving species in the Stegostomatidae family. Adults feature a cylindrical body marked by five distinct ridges along the back and sides. Their skin displays dark spots against a pale background. Young sharks look entirely different, showing light vertical stripes on a brown body before they grow past ninety centimetres. They possess a large head, small eyes, and a tail fin that makes up nearly half their total length. This unique appearance helps identify them across their range.
Where it lives
These sharks inhabit tropical waters across the Indo-Pacific region. Their range stretches from South Africa and the Red Sea eastward to New Caledonia and Tonga. They also extend north to Japan and south to northern Australia. They live on continental shelves, frequenting coral reefs, rubble zones, and sandy areas. Individuals can be found from the intertidal zone down to sixty-two metres deep. Some sharks travel long distances between isolated seamounts, though genetic studies show limited mixing between distant populations.
How it lives
Zebra sharks rest motionless on the sea floor during daylight hours. They often prop themselves up using pectoral fins to face currents for better breathing. At night, they become active hunters, searching holes and crevices for food. Their diet consists mainly of shelled molluscs, crustaceans, small bony fishes, and possibly sea snakes. Their flexible bodies allow them to wriggle into tight spaces to extract prey using suction. While usually solitary, they sometimes form seasonal groups of dozens or hundreds of individuals.
Breeding and life cycle
This species reproduces by laying eggs rather than giving birth to live young. Females produce large, dark brown egg cases with adhesive tendrils. They anchor these capsules to underwater structures like reef outcroppings. A female may lay several dozen eggs over many months. In captivity, eggs hatch after four to six months. Hatchlings measure twenty to thirty-six centimetres long. Males reach sexual maturity at around one point five metres, while females mature at one point seven metres.
Fish and people
Zebra sharks are generally docile and pose little danger to humans, making them popular subjects for ecotourist divers. They are frequently seen in public aquaria worldwide. However, commercial fisheries harvest them across most of their range using bottom trawls and gillnets. The meat is sold fresh or dried, while fins are used for soup and liver oil for vitamins. This heavy fishing pressure has caused significant population declines, leading to their classification as endangered.
Status and threats
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the zebra shark as Endangered globally. Populations are dwindling due to extensive commercial fishing for meat, fins, and oil. Their preference for shallow coastal habitats makes them highly vulnerable to depletion. Habitat degradation from human development further threatens coral reef environments where they live. Genetic data suggests low dispersal rates, meaning local extinctions can occur rapidly without replenishment from other areas.
Questions people ask about Zebra shark
What does a zebra shark look like?
Adults have a cylindrical body with five ridges and dark spots on a pale background. Juveniles under ninety centimetres display light vertical stripes on a brown body. They possess a large head, small eyes, and a tail fin comprising nearly half their length.
Where do zebra sharks live?
They inhabit tropical Indo-Pacific waters from South Africa to Japan and Australia. They frequent coral reefs, sandy flats, and rubble zones. Depths range from the intertidal zone down to sixty-two metres on continental shelves.
Are zebra sharks dangerous to humans?
They are generally docile and slow-moving. Unprovoked attacks are extremely rare, with only one recorded incident resulting in no injuries. They may bite if provoked or handled roughly by divers.
Why are they called zebra sharks?
The common name comes from the juvenile pattern. Young sharks have light vertical stripes on a brown background that resembles a zebra's coat. This pattern changes to dark spots as they mature into adults.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Zebra shark", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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