Nurse shark
Ginglymostoma cirratum
VulnerableFishcarnivore
The nurse shark is a slow-moving bottom dweller with whisker-like barbels near its mouth. It prefers warm coastal waters and often rests in groups during the day. Unlike many sharks, it can pump water over its gills without needing to swim constantly.
- Uses its barbels to sniff out prey hidden in sand or crevices.
- Often seen lying motionless in piles on the ocean floor.
- Legally protected in some areas due to declining numbers.
OceanCoral reefNorth AmericaSouth America
Photo sourceRead more on WikipediaAt a glance
- Classification
- Fish
- Scientific name
- Ginglymostoma cirratum
- Habitat
- Ocean, Coral reef
- Regions in this directory
- North America, South America
- Diet
- carnivore
- Relative size
- large
- IUCN Red List
- Vulnerable (VU)
