- Tagging Program
- Research
- Management
- Species Descriptions
- Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
- Basking Shark
- Bigeye Thresher
- Bignose Shark
- Blacknose Shark
- Blacktip Shark
- Blue Shark
- Bonnethead
- Bull Shark
- Dusky Shark
- Finetooth Shark
- Great Hammerhead
- Lemon Shark
- Longfin Mako
- Night Shark
- Nurse Shark
- Oceanic Whitetip Shark
- Porbeagle
- Sandbar Shark
- Sand Tiger
- Scalloped Hammerhead
- Shortfin Mako
- Silky Shark
- Smooth Dogfish
- Smooth Hammerhead
- Spinner Shark
- Spiny Dogfish
- Thresher Shark
- Tiger Shark
- Whale Shark
- White Shark
- Publications
- Other Links
NURSE SHARK
Ginglymostoma cirratum
SIZE
To about 9 ft (2.7 m).
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
- Mouth near tip of snout with conspicuous nasal barbels on each side; deep grooves connecting nostrils with mouth
- First and second dorsal and anal fins broadly rounded; second dorsal fin nearly as large as first dorsal fin
- First dorsal fin originating well behind pectoral fins and over or behind origin of pelvic fins
- Caudal fin with no distinct lower lobe
- Color dark brown to yellow-brown above; lighter below, occasionally with yellowish hue on underside; juveniles often with black spots
- Very small eyes
- No interdorsal ridge
DISTRIBUTION
RI to Brazil, including Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Rare north of Cape Hatteras, NC.HABITAT
Coastal; bottom dwelling; often in or close to coral reefs; young in very shallow water; adults in progressively deeper water.SIMILAR SPECIES
Sand tiger and lemon shark have caudal fins with distinct lower lobe; lack nasal barbels.MORE INFORMATION
Text descriptions taken from Guide to Sharks, Tunas, & Billfishes of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico |
www.nefsc.noaa.gov |
Search |
Link Disclaimer |
webMASTER |
Privacy Policy |
Survey |
(File Modified Sep. 13 2011)
|