Fact Sheet

Appearance:
Broad and flat head, with moderately long barbels. Mouth is well in front of the very small eyes. Spiracles present. Two big and rounded dorsal fins. Origin of first dorsal fin about opposite of pelvic fins. Large, rounded pectoral fins. Very long caudal fin, over 1/4 of total body length.

Coloration:
Yellowish-brown to grey-brown. No conspicuous markings.

Distribution:
Western Atlantic: Rhode Island to southern Brazil, Bermuda, Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, Cuba and Caribbean. Eastern Atlantic: Cape Verde Islands to Senegal, Cameroon, Gabon. Eastern Pacific: California to Equador. Unknown in the Mediterranean.

Biology:
Abundant in very shallow water (1m depth) of the Caribbean and the Florida Keys. They lay mostly motionless on the bottom with head in a crevice or in a cavern. Sometimes found in aggregations. Nocturnal. They prefer to swim close to the bottom. Pectoral fins are sometimes used to move over the bottom or they use them to "stand up." Nurse sharks are known to use the same crevice and cavern over long periods of time. Very hardy animal, live well in aquaria (up to 25 years has been recorded).

Feeding:
Crustacean, snails, bivalves, sea urchins, small fishes.

Size:
Average size between 230cm and 300cm, maximum total length about 420cm.

Reproduction:
Aplacental viviparous (ovoviviparous). Maximum litter size ever recorded: 28 pups. Mating has been documented very well, and is very complex. Sexual maturity is reached with about 230cm.

Similar species:
None in the same area of distribution. The closely related species Tawny nurse shark ( Nebrius ferrugineus ) has pointed pectoral fins.

Endangerment:
Not endangered.