Zebra shark
Stegostoma tigrinum
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Zebra shark
- Scientific
- Stegostoma tigrinum
- Dhivehi
- ހިތަ މިޔަރުFaana miyaru
- Group
- Sharks
- Maximum size
- Up to about 3.5 m (total length)
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 0 to 90 m (usually 5 to 30 m); also enters brackish water
- IUCN status
- EN · EndangeredEndangered (EN), assessed 2023
Description
A large, gentle shark with a very long tail about half its total length, ridges along the body and a small mouth with short barbels. Adults are pale yellowish with many dark spots; juveniles are dark brown with yellow vertical stripes, which gave rise to the name zebra shark. It rests on sand and rubble by day and feeds at night on molluscs, crustaceans and small fish, sucking them out of crevices.
In the Maldives
MRS (1997) gives faana miyaru, while Dhivehi Wikipedia and FishBase (Maldives) give hitha miyaru; flagged as a conflict. MRS notes it is not very common but is occasionally seen resting on the bottom by divers. Sharks are fully protected in the Maldives (since 2010).
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Stegostoma-tigrinum.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=5374&GenusName=Stegostoma&SpeciesName
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ހިތަ_މިޔަރު
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Stegostoma_fasciatum_mozambique.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Faana miyaru' (Latin form). FishBase (country: Maldives) gives a different name: 'Hitha miyaru'. Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ހިތަ މިޔަރު' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it does NOT match the Latin form. FLAG: sources disagree; needs a Dhivehi speaker.