Beneath the shimmering surface of the Indo-West Pacific Ocean lies a captivating world filled with wonders🌊. Roaming through the coral reefs, one can find today’s protagonist – 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘮 (Forster, 1781), commonly known as the zebra shark. From its vibrant juvenile strips to its mesmerising spots in adulthood, the zebra shark’s story is truly a tale of adaptation and survival📕.
Once upon a time, a young zebra shark emerged from its egg capsule🥚 and ventured into the coral reefs. With a size of approximately 30 cm, its yellowish body is adorned with brown stripes. Undoubtedly charming, the pattern is also the armour of our little warrior. These striking strips not only provide camouflage within the intricate patterns of the coral reef, but they also mimic the appearance of the infamous sea snakes🐍, deterring potential predators. With its agile movement, the zebra shark navigates the coral maze, confounding the watchful eyes of enemies✨.
As time passes⏳, our little fella embraces a new chapter of life📖 by undergoing an astonishing transformation. Marching into adulthood, our zebra shark has grown to a length of 1.3 m and has unlocked boundless areas to explore. Naturally, its armour will need a bit of an update - the once-bold stripes gradually fade, making way for a fascinating pattern of elegant spots. With its new fresh look, the zebra shark can now seamlessly blend into its new sandy or rocky surrounding, making it virtually invisible to both predators and prey.
During daytime, the zebra shark is often found resting motionless on the sea floor💤 – but don’t let that deceive you, as our creature is nothing but an efficient and meticulous predator. As the sun dips below the horizon, the zebra shark’s nocturnal activity begins🌙. Propelled by the undulation of its tail, the zebra shark distinguishes itself with its remarkable manoeuvrability, gliding through the water gracefully and effortlessly. Despite its agility, the zebra shark adopts a contrasting strategy when it comes to hunting. It often spends hours scouring the ocean floor, detecting potential hidden prey. Once a suitable target is found, the zebra shark unleashes its spectacular feeding technique. With its powerful jaws, it creates a suction and draws the naive prey, usually molluscs🐚 and crustaceans🦐, into its mouth and secures a mouthful of nourishment😋. It’s no wonder that the zebra shark’s snout is uniquely flattened and conical, allowing it to reach into tight spaces and seabed, snatching up the hidden delicacies. You may have also noticed its intriguing dental arrangement, with its multiple rows of pointed teeth🦷, that can effortlessly pierce and crush the hard shells of its prey. This methodical approach has proven to be highly effective, allowing the zebra shark to capitalise on hidden food sources and seize a feast with ease.
Adding to the alluring charm of the zebra shark is its extraordinary ability of facultative parthenogenesis🤰🏻 – an intriguing form of reproduction observed solely in captive populations. In this captivating phenomenon, females can give birth to offspring without the need for fertilisation from a male. However, it comes at a cost, as parthenogenetic offspring often have a significantly shorter lifespan😕. Although the effectiveness and significance of this reproductive strategy in the species’ evolution remain uncertain, it continues to captivate researchers and enthusiasts alike.
If you are now captivated by the epic tale of our zebra shark, come and witness the awe-inspiring beauty of the zebra shark firsthand in the Hong Kong Biodiversity Museum!
Text: Nick Lin
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