Zebra Shark

1. Identity Crisis

Why call it a "Zebra" Shark if it has spots? Because the name was given based on the juvenile appearance, which is striped. In many parts of the Indo-Pacific, locals call them "Leopard Sharks" because of the adult spots. To make it worse, there is a true Leopard Shark in California that looks totally different. Science sticks with "Zebra Shark" to avoid confusion.

2. Virgin Births

Zebra Sharks are famous for parthenogenesis (virgin birth). A female named "Leonie" in an Australian aquarium was separated from males for years but suddenly laid eggs that hatched into three healthy pups. Genetic testing proved they were clones of the mother. They can switch from sexual to asexual reproduction if needed!

3. Half-Shark, Half-Tail

Their tail is ridiculous. It accounts for nearly 50% of their total body length. Unlike open-ocean sharks that use a crescent tail for speed, the Zebra Shark uses its long, flexible tail like an eel, undulating it to maneuver into tight crevices to hunt for snails and crabs.

4. Mermaid's Purses

They are oviparous, laying large, dark brown egg cases. These "mermaid's purses" are about 17cm long and have hairy, sticky fibers that anchor them to the reef or seagrass so they don't float away. The pup grows inside for about 4-6 months before hatching.

5. The "Sneeze"

While resting on the sand, you might see a Zebra Shark pump water through its gills or seemingly "cough." Because they rest on the bottom, they use strong throat muscles (buccal pumping) to force water over their gills. Occasionally, they will forcefully expel water to clear sand or debris from their gills—a shark sneeze!

6. Ridged for Pleasure (of Hydrodynamics)

Take a close look at their body—it's not round. They have five distinct ridges running along their flanks. These ridges likely act like stabilizers on a surfboard, helping them glide efficiently despite their somewhat awkward, non-streamlined shape.

7. Crunchy Diet

Small mouth, big crushing power. Their diet consists mainly of hard-shelled mollusks (snails), crustaceans (crabs/shrimp), and small bony fish. They use their slender bodies to wiggle into reef cracks and then suck the prey out.

8. Endangered Status

Despite being widespread, they are listed as Endangered by the IUCN. Because they live in shallow coastal waters and reefs, they are heavily targeted by fisheries (for meat and fins) and suffer from habitat loss. Their docile nature makes them easy targets.

9. Puppy Dog Personality

Zebra Sharks are widely considered the most gentle sharks. In aquariums, they often bond with divers, enjoying "belly rubs" or following them around. In the wild, they are very tolerant of divers, often allowing close observation as long as you don't pull their tail.

10. Night Shift

They are strictly nocturnal hunters. During the day, you will almost always find them sleeping on the sand or coral rubble, facing into the current. At night, they become active, slithering through the reef like giant salamanders.