Faana miyaru: the night-feeding reef shark whose markings change with age
Faana miyaru, the zebra shark, is banded yellow when young and spotted when adult, according to Fishes of the Maldives; divers occasionally find this gentle nocturnal feeder resting near reefs.
The zebra shark, faana miyaru in Dhivehi, is a reef shark that divers in the Maldives encounter only occasionally, and one whose markings change markedly between juvenile and adult. This slow-moving species can grow to 3.5 m or longer.
- Dhivehi name: Faana miyaru
- Other name: Variegated shark
- Taxonomy: listed as Stegostoma fasciatum, though many recent references use Stegostoma tigrinum instead
- Habitat: Coral reefs
- Maximum size: 3.5 m or more
- Family: Stegostomatidae (zebra sharks)
Identification
A juvenile has a dark brown body crossed by upright yellow bands. By adulthood the ground colour has paled to light brown, overlaid with dark spots. The tail fin is strikingly long, accounting for roughly half of total length. Each side of the small mouth carries a short barbel, or whisker, and pronounced ridges run down the flanks. The first dorsal fin, positioned far back, is much bigger than the second.
Behaviour and range
Active only after dark, the zebra shark forages for molluscs, crustaceans, sea snakes and fish. It is an egg-laying species, distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific.
Seeing one in the Maldives
The species is uncommon in Maldivian waters, but divers do sometimes find one lying on the seabed. Scan the bottom close to coral reefs; dive guides name North Malé Atoll's Banana Reef among the sites for them. Approached underwater, zebra sharks show no aggression. Even so, divers should keep a respectful distance and must never touch a shark that is resting.
Source: Fishes of the Maldives, Marine Research Centre (2003).
