The tawny nurse shark ( Nebrius ferrugineus) is a species of carpet shark in the family Ginglymostomatidae, and the only extant member of the genus Nebrius . It is found widely along coastlines in the Indo-Pacific, preferring reefs, sandy flats, and seagrass beds from very shallow water to a depth of 70 m (230 ft). When looked at from above, the tawny nurse shark is grayish, reddish, or yellowish brown and off-white when seen from below. Juveniles have noticeably white lower eyelids. Where do they live Map Of The Tawny Nurse Shark's Habitat
Tawny Nurse Shark Feeding in Port Stephens Shark Encounters
Facts about the Tawny nurse shark - Nebrius ferrugineus from the Shark Research Institute (SRI). SRI conducts and sponsors rigorous, peer-reviewed field research about sharks and uses science-based information to educate and advocate for shark conservation policies and protections by the world's governing bodies, including CITES. They are not related to the sand tiger shark ( Carcharias taurus )—a type of sand shark inhabiting the waters above the continental shelves in most warm and temperate regions—which is sometimes referred to as the gray nurse… Read More The tawny nurse shark is a bottom feeder found on continental and insular shelves. They are native to the Indian and Pacific oceans. They occur in places like the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and East Africa as well as Japan and Australia. Biology: The tawny nurse shark is restricted to a narrow band of shallow water habitat (5 to 30 m, occasionally to 70 m) that is heavily fished throughout all its range except Australia. Taken in inshore fisheries (demersal trawls, floating and fixed bottom gill nets and baited hooks) in Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Pakistan and India.
Tawny Nurse Shark in Talbot Bay, the Kimberley, Western Australia Stock Photo 68999709 Alamy
The maximum recorded length of the tawny nurse shark is 3.2 m (10 ft). Nocturnal in habits, the tawny nurse shark tends to spend the day resting in piles of two dozen or more individuals inside caves or under ledges. At night, it is an active-swimming predator that uses a powerful suction force to extract prey from inside holes and crevices. The tawny nurse shark resides in inshore waters that are heavily fished and is often captured in demersal trawls, gill nets, and baited hook and line throughout much of its range outside of Australia. In Australian waters, this species is taken in small numbers as bycatch in gillnets and meshing. This large, bulky nurse shark is distinguished by the following features: side of body without lateral ridges; precaudal tail shorter than trunk; spiracles much smaller than eyes; nostrils close to front of snout, with short barbels and nasoral grooves connecting them with the mouth but without circumnarial grooves and folds; snout wedge-shaped. A large bulky tan to dark greyish-brown nurse shark, becoming paler below, with a broad flattened head, distinctive pointed-tipped dorsal fins, and narrow, sickle-shaped pectoral fins. Juveniles have white lower eyelids. Cite this page as:
Tawny Nurse Sharks of Chagos Archipelago (KSLOF)Living Oceans Foundation
The nurse shark ( Ginglymostoma cirratum) is an elasmobranch fish in the family Ginglymostomatidae. The conservation status of the nurse shark is globally assessed as Vulnerable in the IUCN List of Threatened Species. [2] Nurse shark, (family Ginglymostomatidae), common name for any shark in the family Ginglymostomatidae, which is made up of the genera Ginglymostoma, Nebrius, and Pseudoginglymostoma. In addition to the common Atlantic nurse shark (G. cirratum), the family includes the tawny nurse shark (N.
Tawny nurse shark facts Tawny nurse sharks are roughly between 1.3 to 2ft in length at birth - as they reach adulthood they are typically around 8.2 ft with a maximum length of 10.5ft They are typically found in the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean ranging from South Africa to Australia, and several other areas including the Red Sea Tawny Nurse Shark. Scientific Name: Nebrius ferrugineus *Greek: Nebri, -idos = skin of a fawn, This likely makes a reference to Nurse Sharks having softer skin than most other sharks. Latin, ferruginous - refers to the colour of iron-rust. Family: Ginglymostomatidae *Greek: ginglymus = hinge; stoma = mouth.
TAWNY NURSE SHARK, Nebrius ferrugineus, TUBBATAHA, PHILIPPINES. David Fleetham Underwater
The tawny nurse shark is the only member of the carpet shark family which exhibits intrauterine cannibalism; once the pups have used up their yolk supply, they will feed on other eggs within the uterus. Attracted by our presence on the reef, a large pregnant female comes over to inspect us. Tawny Nurse Shark. Small mouth with nose barbels. Two dorsal fins of almost equal height. Habitat : Lagoon and external reefs, 1-70 m. Usually lies below overhangs or in cavities during the day. At night it feeds on octopus, crabs, bottom-dwelling fish, sea snakes and sea-urchins. Quarry is sucked in whole and crushed in the mouth.
