Ginglymostoma cirratum

(Bonnaterre, 1788)

Nurse Shark

Range: Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Ocean.

Size: 14 feet (430 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits bottom areas of lagoon patch reefs, mangrove areas, and intertidal zones and usually found at depths between 3 to 400 feet (1 - 120 m) where it feeds on small fishes, shrimp, worms, crabs urchins, and other crustaceans.

General Husbandry: Shown here for identification only.

Taxonomy:

Class: Chondrichthyes

Subclass: Elasmobranchii

Order: Orectolobiformes

Family: Ginglymostomatidae

Genus: Ginglymostoma

FYI: Public aquarium species - has a yearly growth rate of 7 inches (19 cm).

Spends a good portion of its time resting on the bottom.

Best left in the wild.

Unsuitable for home aquariums.