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Short-tail nurse shark

Common name: nurse shark

This species belongs to the nurse shark family, a group better known for bottom-resting patience than for speed. Look for barbels, a broad head, and a habit of cruising slowly over reef and sand. Nurse sharks have a broad head, two barbels near the mouth, small eyes, and a generally soft, rounded appearance compared with active requiem sharks. Nurse sharks and close relatives occur mainly in tropical and subtropical coastal waters of the Atlantic and Indo-West Pacific. Species ranges vary from broad warm-water distributions to more regional patterns.

Pseudoginglymostoma brevicaudatum
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Overview

This species belongs to the nurse shark family, a group better known for bottom-resting patience than for speed. Look for barbels, a broad head, and a habit of cruising slowly over reef and sand. Nurse sharks have a broad head, two barbels near the mouth, small eyes, and a generally soft, rounded appearance compared with active requiem sharks. Nurse sharks and close relatives occur mainly in tropical and subtropical coastal waters of the Atlantic and Indo-West Pacific. Species ranges vary from broad warm-water distributions to more regional patterns.

They favor shallow reefs, sandy flats, channels, lagoons, mangrove edges, and other structured coastal habitats where resting cover is available.

Why it matters: The mouth works like a suction tool, helping these sharks pull prey from crevices.

Common namenurse shark
Scientific namePseudoginglymostoma brevicaudatum
FamilyGinglymostomatidae
OrderOrectolobiformes
Max length0.8 m
RegionKenya, Kenyan EEZ, Republic of Mauritius

What this shark is

Nurse sharks have a broad head, two barbels near the mouth, small eyes, and a generally soft, rounded appearance compared with active requiem sharks.

Where it lives

Nurse sharks and close relatives occur mainly in tropical and subtropical coastal waters of the Atlantic and Indo-West Pacific. Species ranges vary from broad warm-water distributions to more regional patterns.

They favor shallow reefs, sandy flats, channels, lagoons, mangrove edges, and other structured coastal habitats where resting cover is available.

How it differs from similar sharks

Body shape, size, and habitat are the main cues that separate it from related sharks.

Compare it against Ginglymostoma Unami and Tawny nurse shark.

Why it is notable

They are often approachable and usually calm, but a provoked or restrained nurse shark can bite hard and hold on. Habitat change and fisheries also affect some populations.

Related shark pages

These links are meant to help readers continue through related species, not force extra clicks.

Pacific nurse shark photograph showing the broad head and barbels near the mouth; not to scale.
Ginglymostoma unami

Ginglymostoma Unami

This species belongs to the nurse shark family, a group better known for bottom-resting patience than for speed. Look for barbels, a broad head, and a habit of cruising slowly over reef and sand.

Tawny nurse shark reference photograph showing the long barbels and broad rounded fins; not to scale.
Nebrius ferrugineus

Tawny nurse shark

Common name: giant sleepy shark

This species belongs to the nurse shark family, a group better known for bottom-resting patience than for speed. Look for barbels, a broad head, and a habit of cruising slowly over reef and sand.

3.2 m max