What pattern replaces the juvenile stripes on a mature Stegostoma tigrinum?
Answer
Scattered dark spots against a paler base
As the zebra shark matures, it undergoes a significant ontogenetic color change, shedding the distinctive juvenile stripes. The adult form is characterized by a pattern of dark spots that are scattered across a noticeably paler background. This change is so dramatic that adults are sometimes informally referred to as leopard sharks by observers. This shift in pigmentation is thought to be an evolutionary advantage, providing effective concealment as the shark moves from structured, shadowed nursery areas to the flatter, more open bottoms typical of adult habitats.
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Why is the zebra shark commonly named for a zebra in its juvenile stage?What pattern replaces the juvenile stripes on a mature Stegostoma tigrinum?To which taxonomic order does the zebra shark belong, alongside carpet sharks?What is the maximum recorded length the zebra shark can reach?What specialized pigment-containing cells drive the ontogenetic color change in Stegostoma fasciatum?What term describes the zebra shark's method of reproduction involving large, leathery eggs?What is the global conservation status assigned to the zebra shark by the IUCN Red List?What proportion of the zebra shark's total length is characterized by its long tail?What is the generally preferred depth range limit for the bottom-dwelling zebra shark?What historical issue arose from the distinct juvenile and adult appearances of Stegostoma species?