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Nurse shark

Ginglymostoma cirratum

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Fun Facts

Nurse sharks are mostly nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day and hunt at night.

Species Type:

Sharks & Rays

Common Name(s):

Nurse shark

Size:

These sharks grow to be 7.5 to 8 feet (2.3-2.4 meters) and 200 pounds (91 kilograms) on average.

Diet:

Nurse sharks hang out on the ocean floor, hiding in the sand and preying on any bottom dwelling creatures that cross its path. This includes sea urchins, fish, lobsters, crabs, squid and stingrays.

Range & Habitat:

Nurse sharks can be found in sandy bottoms, caves and reef communities in the coastal waters of the Atlantic and eastern Pacific Ocean.

Details:

Nurse sharks range from yellow-tan to brown in color. Near their mouth, they have two barbells similar to catfish. Their teeth are unique in that they don’t overlap like other shark species.