Nurse Shark

Ginglymostoma cirratum

Sharks are called cartilaginous fishes because their skeletons are made of cartilage, a softer material than true bone. Their fins have many fine rays and many have tails shaped like crescent moons. Sharks are elongate fishes with five to seven pairs of gill slits on the side of the head, mostly above the level of the pectoral fins. The Nurse Shark is relatively common and is frequently seen by snorkelers. It is one of the few sharks that rests motionless on the bottom, often with its head under a rocky ledge.

Look For : A brownish-green, elongate shark with dorsal and anal fins far back and nearly the same size. Barbels near nostrils.

Length : 14'.

Habitat : Shallow coastal waters, frequently around mangroves or near rocky shelter.

Range : In Atlantic from Rhode Island south to Gulf of Mexico and Brazil. In Pacific from Gulf of California to Ecuador.