Zebra Shark

Meet the Zebra sharks, gentle creatures often seen lounging on sandy patches near coral reefs during the day. Unlike many other sharks, they don’t need to keep swimming to breathe, instead, they pump water over their gills using small openings called spiracles.
When night falls, these sharks become active. Propped up on their wide pectoral fins, they glide through the reef in search of food. Their long, flexible bodies help them slip into narrow crevices to reach tasty snacks such as molluscs, crabs, and small fish. Using their whisker-like barbels to sniff out prey hiding in the sand, they then suck it up with strong mouth muscles, almost like an underwater vacuum cleaner.
Zebra sharks are oviparous, meaning the females lay large, dark brown egg cases that anchor to underwater surfaces with hair-like fibres. Once the pups hatch, they can swim on their own. At first, they wear bold stripes that protect them from predators, but as they grow, their pattern gradually shifts from stripes to spots, giving adults their cheetah-like look.
Sadly, zebra sharks are Endangered, threatened by overfishing, habitat loss, and the demand for their fins, meat, and liver oil. Protecting coral reefs and supporting sustainable fishing are essential to ensure the survival of these peaceful sharks.