Which category of organisms forms the bulk of the zebra shark’s caloric intake in its natural habitat?
Answer
Invertebrates.
The zebra shark is defined by its specialization toward bottom-dwelling food sources, fitting its nocturnal, creeping hunting style. The primary energy supply comes overwhelmingly from invertebrates residing on or within the seafloor. This category is broad and includes mollusks like snails, crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp, and echinoderms like sea urchins. While they do consume small fish occasionally, the foundation of their diet, which dictates their specialized anatomy for crushing shells and suction feeding, is rooted in these various invertebrate populations.
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