Ginglymostoma cirratum
Nurse Shark
Maximum Size:
14 ft (4.3 m)
Longevity:
Up to 25 years.
Typical depth:
0–430 ft (0–130 m)
Behavior:
Nurse sharks are large nocturnal reef predators. At night, they search for hard-shelled prey, such as lobsters, crabs and conch, which they consume with their specially designed jaws. During the day, they are often found resting in caves or beneath coral overhangs.
Predators:
Larger shark species.
Did you know?
Nurse sharks give birth to around 20 to 30 live young per litter. Since female nurse sharks mate multiple times with different partners, pups in the same brood can have several different biological fathers.
