Zebra shark (faana miyaru) swaps yellow stripes for dark spots as it grows
Juvenile zebra sharks are striped yellow and adults are spotted, according to Fishes of the Maldives. Divers occasionally find this gentle night feeder resting near reefs.
Known in Dhivehi as faana miyaru, the zebra shark is a slow, reef-dwelling shark that can grow to 3.5 m or longer, and it changes its markings dramatically between youth and adulthood.
Key facts
- Dhivehi name: Faana miyaru
- Other name: Variegated shark
- Scientific name: Stegostoma fasciatum (often given as Stegostoma tigrinum in newer references)
- Family: Stegostomatidae (zebra sharks)
- Size: Up to 3.5 m or more
- Habitat: Coral reefs
Telling it apart
Young zebra sharks are dark brown with upright yellow bands, while adults turn pale brown covered in dark spots. The tail fin is exceptionally long, making up roughly half the animal's length. A small barbel, or whisker, sits on each side of the little mouth, and raised ridges run down the flanks. The first dorsal fin is set far back and is much bigger than the second.
Life on the reef
This shark is active only after dark, when it hunts molluscs, crustaceans, sea snakes and fish. It reproduces by laying eggs and is found throughout the Indo-West Pacific.
Spotting one in the Maldives
Zebra sharks are uncommon in Maldivian waters, though divers sometimes come across one lying on the seabed. Search the bottom close to coral reefs; dive guides include Banana Reef in North Malé Atoll among the places to see them. They do not behave aggressively when divers approach, but keep a respectful distance and never touch a shark that is resting.
Source: Fishes of the Maldives, Marine Research Centre (2003).