Nurse Shark
โก Key Facts & Quick Answers (AEO Summary)
- Taxonomic Class: Fish & Marine Life
- Dietary Niche: Carnivore (Spiny lobsters, crabs, sea urchins, squid, octopus)
- Max Speed: 40 km/h (25 mph)
- Adult Weight: 90 - 150 kg (200 - 330 lbs)
- Typical Lifespan: 25 - 35 years
- Primary Habitat: Shallow tropical coral reefs, mangrove channels, sand flats
- Native Region: Tropical Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
๐ Physical & Biological Metrics
๐งฌ Scientific Taxonomy & Biological Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Chondrichthyes |
| Order | Orectolobiformes |
| Family | Ginglymostomatidae |
| Genus | Ginglymostoma |
| Species Binomial | Ginglymostoma cirratum |
๐ 1. Species Overview
The Nurse Shark is a docile, bottom-dwelling shark. Unlike most sharks that must swim to breathe, nurse sharks pump water over their gills while resting motionless on reef floors.
๐ฆฟ 2. Physical Appearance, Anatomy & Adaptations
Smooth grey-brown skin, broad flat head, two barbels on upper lip, rounded fins, and small serrated teeth.
๐บ๏ธ 3. Habitat, Geographic Distribution & Territorial Range
Nocturnal hunters. They rest in groups of up to 40 inside reef caves during the day.
๐ฅฉ 4. Diet, Feeding Strategy & Hunting Tactics
Use strong suction to vacuum lobsters and crabs out of coral crevices at night.
๐ฃ 5. Reproduction, Lifecycle & Social Hierarchy
Ovoviviparous. Females give birth to litters of 20-30 pups after a 6-month gestation.
๐ก๏ธ 6. Conservation Status, Population Threats & Protection
Vulnerable. Threatened by reef habitat loss and entanglement in fishing gear.
๐ก Fascinating Facts & Trivia
- Nurse sharks use powerful suction to vacuum food out of coral cracks, making a loud popping noise that sounds like a kiss.
- They can rest completely still on ocean floors by pumping water across their gills using buccal pumping.
โ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Direct authoritative answers regarding the biology, feeding habits, and habitat of the Nurse Shark.
The Nurse Shark is scientifically classified as Ginglymostoma cirratum. It belongs to the genus Ginglymostoma within the family Ginglymostomatidae, class Chondrichthyes, and phylum Chordata.
In the wild, Nurse Sharks inhabit Shallow tropical coral reefs, mangrove channels, sand flats. Their native geographic range primarily spans Tropical Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans.
The Nurse Shark is classified as a Carnivore. It feeds primarily on specialized nutrients suited to its ecological niche in Shallow tropical coral reefs, mangrove channels, sand flats.
A Nurse Shark can achieve top speeds of 40 km/h (25 mph) and weighs approximately 90 - 150 kg (200 - 330 lbs). Its expected natural lifespan is 25 - 35 years.
The Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) is currently designated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Cite this Article
FaunaWiki Zoological Database (2026). "Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) Species Profile."
๐พ Related Species & Co-inhabitants
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Green Sea Turtle
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Great White Shark
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