Fish · GBIF taxon 2417495
Nurse Shark
Ginglymostoma cirratumAlso known as Atlantic Nurse Shark
Nurse sharks spend their days resting in dense communal groups on sandy seafloors or tucked under ledge overhangs within coral reefs. When night falls, these nocturnal predators patrol shallow tropical waters, using sensory barbels to locate invertebrates and sleeping fish hidden in the substrate. They generate immense suction with their thick muscular pharynx to snap prey out of tight rock crevices with a distinctive popping sound.
BenthicNocturnalReef Inhabitant
—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Spiny Lobster
- Swimming Crab
- Sea Urchin
Predators
- Great Hammerhead
- Tiger Shark
- Bull Shark
ThreatsCoastal habitat destruction, targeted fishing for leather and oil, and commercial bycatch.
HabitatsCoral reefs, mangrove channels, seagrass beds, and shallow coastal waters.
Life span25 to 35 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyGinglymostomatidae
- SpeciesGinglymostoma cirratum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Can deliver a powerful, clamping bite if cornered or handled; maintain a respectful distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Possesses powerful jaws lined with thousands of tiny, serrated teeth capable of inflicting severe crushing bites if provoked.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a smooth, dark brown or greyish body with broad pectoral fins, tiny facial barbels, and two rounded dorsal fins.
- What to do
- Give resting individuals plenty of space and never attempt to ride, pet, or hand-feed them while diving or snorkeling.
- What to notice
- Recognizable by its broad, flat head, paired sensory barbels near the mouth, and uniform brownish coloration.
- Support conservation
- Observe silently without disrupting aggregation sites or disturbing juveniles in shallow mangrove nursery grounds.
Responsible observation
- Diving Etiquette: Keep a respectful distance from bottom-resting sharks to avoid disturbing their daytime rest.
- Reef Safety: Never attempt to touch or grab nurse sharks, as their strong jaws can lock on in self-defense.
- Night Observations: Use low-intensity dive lights when watching nocturnal foraging behavior on the reef.
Carpet Shark Kin (c) Daniel Benák, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Daniel Benák · cc-by
Predator (c) Jake Mohan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Frequent Companion (c) Dan Schofield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Daniel Benák, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Daniel Benák · cc-by
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