Nurse sharks are stocky, bottom-dwelling sharks that grow to around 4.3 m, with distinctive barbels (whisker-like sensory organs) hanging from their lower jaws. Found in warm coastal waters of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, they rest on sandy or rocky seabeds during the day and hunt nocturnally, using their barbels to detect prey hidden in sediment. Despite their docile appearance, they are listed as vulnerable and should be approached with respect; cornered individuals have been known to bite.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Elasmobranchii
- Order
- Orectolobiformes
- Family
- Ginglymostomatidae
- Genus
- Ginglymostoma
Most likely to be seen at
Sites where its range and habitat make it likely — not yet confirmed by a logged sighting.