FACT TIME! Topic: Zebra Sharks! -Did you know that zebra sharks are nocturnal? They hunt at night. Zebra sharks are found in the western Pacific Ocean from Japan to Australia, as well as the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Zebra sharks feed mainly on mollusks and crustaceans as well as small fish. -Zebra sharks are a slow-swimming, nocturnal species that hunts at night and rests during the day. Zebra sharks can pump water over their gills, so they do not have to keep swimming to breathe as some shark species must do. -The zebra shark gets its name from the colouration of the juveniles, which have black and white striped markings. As they mature their colouration changes from stripes to spots and that is why they are also known as leopard shark! -The lifespan of the zebra shark is believed to be 25-30 years. These nocturnal hunters feed primarily on mollusks, crustaceans, small bony fishes, and even sea snakes. Sucking their prey up with powerful buccal cavity muscles. It squirms into narrow crevices and channels in reefs searching for prey. -Zebra sharks don't have to swim to breathe. They rest on the reef floor with their mouths open and throat muscles pumping water across their gills. While adults are spotted, the pups start life with zebralike dark and light bands on their long tails, making them look like venomous snakes to predators. -Zebra sharks are a docile, nocturnal species best known for their characteristic stripes and spots—in juveniles and adults respectively. -Zebra Sharks are considered endangered and highly vulnerable to extinction as they are hunted for their skin and liver oil. Zebra Sharks have a total length between 6.5'-11.5' (2-3.5 m) and an overall weight in the range of 45-65 lb (20-30 kg). The typical lifespan of the Zebra Shark is between 20-30 years. -Adults typically reach an average length of about 8 feet (2.4 meters). As nocturnal bottom-feeders, they are usually seen resting on the sea floor or calmly cruising over sand flats and tropical coral reefs during the day. They feed on a variety of invertebrates, including crabs, small fish, and shrimp. -Zebra sharks are listed as vulnerable to extinction on the IUCN Red List. The reason for the listing is largely human activities. They are heavily fished throughout their range except in Australia. They are taken by inshore fisheries using bottom trawls, gillnets, or baited hooks.
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