Dykning med Zebrahajer

Zebrahajfamilien har kun ét medlem, zebrahajen, eller som vi kalder den her i Thailand, leopardhajen. Vi kan af og til se disse føjelige hajer, når vi dykker fra Koh Lanta.

Disse tæppehajer hviler sig ofte på sandbunden tæt på revkanten, og det er mest sandsynligt, at vi ser dem ved Hin Bida eller Hin Klai og lejlighedsvis, men mindre sandsynligt, ved Koh Bida Nok eller Koh Bida Nai.

1 arter fundet på denne side:

• Zebra (Leopard) Shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)

Zebra (Leopard) Shark

(Stegostoma fasciatum)

Leopard sharks have a long cylindrical body, with a short blunt snout and a flattened head. The small eyes are located to the sides of the head.

The nostrils have short downward pointing barbels with a groove running to the mouth. There are up to 30 rows of small teeth in both the upper and lower jaws.

Adult Leopard sharks have been known to reach 3 metres in size. They have 5 horizontal ridges along their long cylindrical bodies and their spot markings are so varied between adults that it is possible to identify individuals.

Juvenile leopard sharks have a different colour pattern entirely, they have light zebra stripes on a dark background, slowly changing to leopard-like spots when they reach 50 - 90 cm in length.

Stegostoma fasciatum @ Hin Bida

Leopard Sharks are strong and agile swimmers, propelling themselves with their long powerful tails which make up nearly 50% of their total length.

Nocturnal feeders, Zebra Sharks hunt for crustaceans, small fish and molluscs amongst the reef and sandy bottoms at night.

During the day they spend their time resting on the seafloor. You may see them propped up on their large broad pectoral fins facing the current in channels.

Zebra Shark @ Hin Bida

Zebra Shark swimming @ Hin Bida

A male zebra shark will chase and bite the females fins during mating. He will wrap his body around hers and insert one of his claspers into her cloaca.

Females may lay up to 40 - 50 egg capsules in batches of around 4, over a period of 100 days.

The large egg capsules are around 6cm long, 7cm wide and approximately 5 cm thick. The egg case is a dark brown colour with hair-like fibres which allow the eggs to be attached to the substrate.

After a gestation period of up to 6 months the 10 inch pups will hatch fully developed and independent.

Dykning med Zebrahajer omkring Koh Lanta

Dykning og snorkelture

Hvis du gerne vil have chancen for at se Zebrahajer på en af vores daglige dykkerture i højsæsonen fra Koh Lanta, så send os en e-mail til info@diveandrelax.com.

Deltag i vores speedbådsdykkerture i højsæsonen til nogle af Thailands bedste dykkersteder og nyd små grupper, korte rejsetider med fokus på god personlig service, sikkerhed og sjov.

Er du endnu ikke certificeret dykker? Lær at dykke på Koh Lanta med det 3-dages SSI Open Water Diver-kursus.

Få mere at vide

Indo-Stillehavets havdyrsguider

• Allen, G., Steene, R., Humann, P., DeLoach, N. (2003) Reef Fish Identification, Tropical Pacific. Jacksonville, FL., USA: New World Publications, Inc., ISBN 1-878348-36-1.
• Humann, P., DeLoach, N., (2010) Reef Creature Identification, Tropical Pacific. Jacksonville, FL., USA: New World Publications Inc., ISBN 978-1-878348-44-9
• Debelius, H. (2013) Indian Ocean Reef Guide. Frankfurt, Germany: IKAN - Unterwasserarchiv, ISBN 978-3-939767-52-7.
• Debelius, H. (2004) Nudibranchs and Sea Snails, Indo-Pacific Field Guide. Frankfurt, Germany: IKAN - Unterwasserarchiv, ISBN 3-925919-51-1
• Erhardt, H., Knop, D. (2015) Corals Indo-Pacific Field Guide. Frankfurt, Germany: IKAN - Unterwasserarchiv, ISBN 3-925919-69-4.
• Veron J.E.N., Stafford-Smith M.G., Turak E. and DeVantier L.M. (2016). Corals of the World

Flere referencer om havets dyreliv og yderligere information