The Nurse Shark is a slow-moving bottom dwelling shark and is known for being a calm, docile species. They belong to the group “carpet sharks” as they spend significant time lying on the ocean floor much like a carpet. Their genus name Ginglymostoma means “hinged mouth” while the species name cirratum means “curled ringlets.”
Their mouth has a puckered appearance, with rows of backward-curled teeth to help suck up their food. There are several theories on how they got their name. It might be from the sucking sound they make when eating which vaguely resembles that of a nursing baby or it may come from the word, nusse, meaning cat shark. However the most likely theory is that the name comes from the Old English word for sea-floor shark: hurse. They are not aggressive towards humans and are one of the most popular species to swim with. They have minimal energy, and love to cuddle up with other nurse sharks!
At-A-Glance
Scientific Name – Ginglymostoma cirratum
Size – Up to 10ft/3m.
Habitat – Warm, shallow waters of the Atlantic and East Pacific.
Diet – Carnivore; mainly invertebrates and small fish.
Reproduction – Ovoviviparous (pups are nourished in utero via yolk sac and birthed live).
Lifespan – 30+ years.
IUCN Listing – Vulnerable.
Protection – None.
Bet You Didn’t Know…
- Nurse sharks like to ‘walk’ across the seafloor. They are typically found in shallow waters, and spend most of their time around coral reefs and shelves. Instead of swimming, they will sometimes use their pectoral fins to ‘walk’ on the bottom, while they hunt.
- The two little whiskers on their chin, which are called ‘barbels’, are fleshy organs that contain taste buds. They drag them along the bottom to find prey. Nurse sharks vacuum their prey, by generating a powerful suction from the throat to suck up their food. They have backward curving teeth that crush up the food once it is in their mouth.
- Although nurse sharks have a calm reputation, they have attacked humans before. If provoked, they have been known to bite!
- Their low energy, ‘couch potato’ status is attributed to their low metabolism. Unlike most other sharks, they like to spend their time resting still at the bottom of the ocean floor. They face against the current to allow water to flow into their gills and mouth.
- Night Owls: Nurse sharks like to sleep and cuddle during the day, but turn into hunters at night!
Ready To Dive In?
It is typical to dive with Nurse Sharks during the dry season (November to April), as this is when the waters are calm and have high visibility.
- Maldives
- Bahamas
- Florida Keys and Jupiter
- Fiji
- Costa Rica
Science In The Spotlight
Nurse Sharks often have trouble reproducing in captivity. Can the scent of basil encourage their reproductive behaviors?
Ready To Test Your Knowledge?
Take the 10 question quiz with our After Bites Program. Questions all based on this Nurse Shark Monthly Chomp.
Written by Liel Shachr, University of Florida, B.S. Natural Resource Conservation
Photos: Sheryl Checkman, Jamie Pollack, Amanda Cotton, SC Aquarium
Quiz written and developed by Lani Knox