Shark

Nurse shark

Ginglymostoma cirratum

Reef ledges, sandy flats, and mangrove channels

Photo: Dr. Mathew Gilligan / NOAA · Public domain (U.S. government) · Source and license. Displayed as a resized crop. Photograph illustrates the species.

Habitat: Reef ledges, sandy flats, and mangrove channels
Published habitat depth: Adults often rest at 3–75 m; juveniles use 1–4 m shallows
Viewing activities: Snorkeling · Scuba diving

What to look for

Look for a broad head, small eyes, barbels beside the mouth and two rounded dorsal fins. Adults are generally tan to dark brown; smaller juveniles may have dark spots.

What it eats

Nurse sharks take fish, crustaceans and mollusks, drawing prey into the mouth by suction.

Life and behavior

They often rest on the bottom or in reef crevices during daylight and forage at night. A resting shark is still a wild animal: do not touch it, block its route or try to provoke movement.

Field context

Sandy bottoms, reef caves and crevices. Adults often rest at 3–75 m by day and forage in shallower water at night; juveniles frequent 1–4 m.

Observing responsibly

Often rests beneath ledges during the day and forages at night. Leave resting animals undisturbed.

When to look

The available records do not establish a reliable local viewing season. Use the map’s month filter to inspect dated observations; it does not predict an encounter.

Learn more about this species

Why Your Dive Compass Can Point Straight While You Still Miss the Boat

RECORDED PRESENCE

Where has Nurse shark been recorded?

These destination links use the same area and date cutoff as the map: 40 km circles, except for the four named regional rectangles. Checked 2026-09-19. Counts describe source records, not individual animals or sighting odds.

Sources, search boundaries and limitations