According to the 2019 taxonomic review, what is the senior synonym for the Zebra Shark's species name?
*Stegostoma tigrinum* (Forster, 1781)
The current accepted scientific designation for the Zebra Shark is *Stegostoma tigrinum* (Forster, 1781), established following a significant taxonomic review in 2019. This name is considered the senior synonym, meaning it is the oldest available, valid name predating other accepted names like *S. fasciatum*. The species name *tigrinum* is Latin and translates to 'of tigers,' a fitting description for the highly visible, banded pattern displayed by the shark during its juvenile stage. The importance of this resolution is critical for conservation efforts, as failing to cross-reference the historical nomenclature (*S. fasciatum*) with the current nomenclature (*S. tigrinum*) can lead to inaccurate historical population assessments across the Indo-West Pacific range, thus affecting conservation planning derived from IUCN data.
