1. Family Stegastomatidae Stegostoma fasciatum
Zebra Sharks
Family Stegastomatidae
Stegostoma fasciatum

2. Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class chondrichthyes
Order Orectolobiformes
Family Stegastomatidae
Genus Stegostoma
species fasiatum

3. Anatomical characteristics of the family
Broad low caudal fin as long as body
Ridges running down body
Mouth in front of eyes, large spiracles
Barbels
Anal fin close to tail
As juvenile has stripes change to spots as adult a.k.a. “leopard sharks”
3.5 m long

4. Genetics
DNA, taken from fin clips, sequenced and found to be different from other orectolobid sharks
Confirmed placement in own family

5. Habitat Indian ocean Western pacific E. Africa to Japan
Coral reefs; intertidal
5 to 60 m deep
nocturnal
Red list-vulnerable
Used for aquaria

6. Feeding Mollusks (bivalves, gastropods) Crustaceans (crabs, shrimp)
Small bony fish
Slow moving
Sits on bottom
Sucks food out of sand

7. Reproduction Oviparous Dark brown egg case anchored with fibers
Hatch cm
Young have “zebra” stripes
Thought to be a reversal to egg-laying
Unique compared to evolutionary trend

14. Literature cited
Compagno, L., M. Dando, and S. Fowler Sharks of the world. Princeton University press, princeton, NJ. Pp
Dudgeon CL, Feldheim K, Schick M, et a Polymorphic microsatellite loci for the zebra shark Stegostoma Fasciatum. MOLECULAR ECOLOGY NOTES 6 (4): DEC
Dulvy NK, Reynolds JD Evolutionary transitions among egg- laying, live-bearing and maternal inputs in sharks and rays. Evolutionary. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 264 (1386):