Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Ginglymostoma cirratum
- Common name
- Nurse Shark
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Ginglymostomatidae
- Genus
- Ginglymostoma
- Size
- 70–230 cm
- Depth
- 1–60 m
- IUCN status
- Data deficient (DD)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- sandy-bottom, rocky-reef, coral-reef
- Behaviours
- benthic, nocturnal, slow-mover
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Macaronesia, East Atlantic, Eastern Pacific, Mediterranean
Description
Stout shark (70-230 cm) brown-grey with two barbels below mouth. Sandy to reef habitats, shallow to moderate depth (1-60 m) West Atlantic and Pacific. Nocturnal, benthic, rests in caves by day. Docile, slow behaviour, harmless to divers. Conservation: data deficient. Diving: easily approached, often found resting under overhangs.
Photo of Nurse Shark
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Nurse Shark?
- Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) reaches 70–230 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Nurse Shark?
- Nurse Shark is found between 1–60 m deep.
- Is the Nurse Shark dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Nurse Shark?
- IUCN status: Data deficient (DD).
- Where can you find the Nurse Shark?
- Found in: Caribbean, Macaronesia, East Atlantic, Eastern Pacific, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Ginglymostoma
Other species in the family Ginglymostomatidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 105846)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2417495)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia