Knowra Nurse shark Nurse shark The nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) is a slow-moving, bottom-dwelling shark found in warm coastal waters of the Atlantic and eastern Pacific. It rests on the seafloor by day and often hunts at night.
Suction feeding : A feeding method that draws prey into an animal’s mouth by creating negative pressure. The nurse shark uses powerful suction to extract prey from crevices and beneath sediment.
Ginglymostoma cirratum : The scientific name of the nurse shark, a species in the carpet shark order Orectolobiformes. This binomial identifies the species covered by this page.
IUCN Red List : A global assessment system that classifies species by their risk of extinction. Its assessments track the nurse shark’s conservation status and population concerns.
Lemon shark : A large coastal shark in the family Carcharhinidae, common in warm Atlantic waters. It shares some coastal habitats with nurse sharks but belongs to a different shark order.
Nurse shark mating : The reproductive behavior of nurse sharks, including seasonal mating in some populations. Mating behavior is among the best-documented seasonal events in this species’ life cycle.
Barbel : A slender sensory appendage near an animal’s mouth, often used to detect food. Its short barbels help locate prey on or within the seafloor.
Orectolobiformes : An order of sharks that includes whale sharks, wobbegongs, and nurse sharks. The nurse shark belongs to this diverse group of mostly bottom-associated sharks.
Shark finning : The removal of a shark’s fins, often followed by discarding the body at sea. Nurse sharks can be caught for fins, though targeted pressure varies by region.
Whale shark : The largest living fish, a filter-feeding shark found in tropical and warm seas. It is another orectolobiform shark, despite its very different size and feeding strategy.
Nurse shark nursery : A coastal area used by young nurse sharks for shelter and feeding. Shallow habitats can support juveniles during early growth.
Show all 29