Tawny Nurse Shark

Threat Level: low

TAWNY NURSE SHARK

Scientific name..........Nebrius Ferrugineus

Family name............Ginglymostomatidae

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The tawny nurse shark is a large shark with a broad flattened head, snout rounded or truncated. Mouth in front of eyes with long nasoral grooves. Nostrils with barbels. Small spiracles behind eyes. Small gill slits, two spinless dorsal fins. Precaudal tail much shorter than head and body. Unpatterned, juveniles will have a few dark spots.

SIZE

Tawny nurse sharks can reach a maximum length of 10.4 feet ( 320 cm ). Born at 15.7 up to 23 inches ( 40-60 cm ).

TEETH

They have short small mouths with fan-shaped serrated teeth. The tawny nurse shark's name was presumably derived from its ability to suck up prey using a powerful sucking motion with its throat, just like a baby being nursed.

COLOR

Their color may change between shades of brown , depending on the color of its habitat.

FEEDING HABITS

This species feeds on crustaceans, sea urchins, cephalopods, and reef fish, and sometimes on sea snakes.

BEHAVIOUR

Mainly nocturnal, prowl reefs at night searching for prey.

HABITAT

They are wide-ranging, tropical Indo-pacific: South Africa to Red Sea and Gulf, East Asia north to Japan, Australia to Marshall Islands and Tahiti. This species is found on or near bottom in sheltered areas: lagoons, particularly juveniles, channels, crevices and caves in outer coral and rocky reef edges, seagrass and sand on and near reefs and off beaches. They occur from intertidal to 228 feet (70 m ) but mainly found between 16-98.4 feet (5 to 30 m).

REPRODUCTION

Tawny Nurse sharks are ovoviviparous ( aplacental viviparous ). Young feed inside the uterus on large infertile yolky eggs. Litter size is uncertain, one to four, depending upon competition in the uterus.

SHARK ATTACK

This shark is usually docile, but may bite if provoked.

POPULATION REPORT

Vulnerable, fished through much of its range.