Species FishNurse Shark

Nurse Shark

Ginglymostoma cirratum

CommonFish
Illustration of Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum)
Safety note: Usually docile, but a large wild shark. Never touch, corner, or feed one.

A slow, docile bottom-dweller often found resting motionless on the seafloor by day. It uses the barbels near its mouth to find prey and can suck food from crevices with surprising force.

Habitat
Warm shallow reefs, seagrass flats, and mangroves, especially off Florida.
Diet
Crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish taken from the bottom.
How common
Common

Best time to see a Nurse Shark

The best time to see a Nurse Shark is February–July, when about 65% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 1,347 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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Recent Nurse Shark sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

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