Zebra Shark

Zebra Shark

Stegostoma fasciatum

30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Ningaloo Marine Park
29 Verified records at Ningaloo Marine Park
December Best month highest sighting rate

The zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum), also known as the Indo-Pacific leopard shark, is a species of carpet shark and the only extant member of the family Stegostomatidae. It is found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific, frequenting coral reefs and sandy flats to a depth of 62 m (200 ft). Zebra sharks are distinctive in appearance, with adults possessing five longitudinal ridges on a cylindrical body, a low caudal fin comprising nearly half the total length, and typically a pattern of dark spots on a pale background. Young zebra sharks under 50–90 cm (20–35 in) long have a completely different pattern, consisting of light vertical stripes on a brown background, and lack the ridges. This species attains a length of 2.5 m (8.2 ft). Zebra sharks are nocturnal and spend most of the day resting motionless on the sea floor. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Zebra Shark sighting in Ningaloo Marine Park, based on 29 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
50–60
Feb
50–60
Mar
50–60
Apr
40–50
May
40–50
Jun
50–60
Jul
40–50
Aug
50–60
Sep
50–60
Oct
10–20
Nov
60–70
Dec

🕐 When They’re Spotted

🕐

Sightings of Zebra Shark are recorded here, but fewer than 5 of them carry a time of day in GBIF — sighting probability uses whole days, so it is unaffected. The hourly pattern needs timestamps we don't have yet.

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Ningaloo Marine Park 🇦🇺 Australia
30–40%

More parks will be added in future updates.

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Zebra Shark in Ningaloo Marine Park?

About 39% of wildlife watchers report a Zebra Shark sighting in Ningaloo Marine Park, based on 29 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Zebra Shark in Ningaloo Marine Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for Zebra Shark in Ningaloo Marine Park in our monthly data.

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