The zebra shark is torpedo-shaped, with a rounded snout, small eyes, and a small mouth with 50-67 small teeth designed to suck prey out of the sand.
Female zebra sharks will lay up to four egg cases, which are generally dark brown to purple-black in color. These egg cases will remain on the ocean floor for up to six months, held in place by tendrils which snag them in the substrate. Upon emerging, pups are 8 to 10 inches (20 to 26 centimeters) long. Juveniles will have a striped pattern on their body which changes to spots as they mature.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the zebra shark population as Endangered due to ongoing threats from fishing and habitat loss and suspected reductions of over 50% of its population within three generations. Endangered populations are defined as being at a very high risk of extinction in the wild.