Eastern zebra shark (SciiFii)

The eastern zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum orientem) is a subspecies of zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced across the Californian Great Barrier Reef to help boost biodiversity. Adult eastern zebra sharks are distinctive in appearance, with five longitudinal ridges on a cylindrical body, a low caudal fin comprising nearly half the total length, and usually a pattern of dark spots on a pale background. Young eastern zebra sharks under 50–90 centimeters (20–35 inches) long have a completely different pattern, consisting of light vertical stripes on a brown background, and lack the ridges. The eastern zebra shark attains a length of 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) on average, although some individuals are known to grow larger. Eastern zebra sharks are largely nocturnal and spend most of the day resting motionless on the sea floor, although they are occasionally seen active during the day. At night, they actively hunt for molluscs, crustaceans, small bony fishes, and even sea snakes inside holes and crevices in the reef. Though solitary for most of the year, they form large seasonal aggregations. The eastern zebra shark is oviparous: females produce several dozen large egg capsules, which they anchor to underwater structures via adhesive tendrils. Innocuous to humans and hardy in captivity, eastern zebra sharks are popular subjects of ecotourism dives and public aquaria, and due to being abundant in the wild compared with the western subspecies (which is currently threatened to extinction), it is the most common zebra shark subspecies in captivity. The conservation status of the eastern zebra shark is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts and the eastern zebra shark's wide range.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii