Species learning profile
Nurse shark
Ginglymostoma cirratum
Nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) is a saltwater fish associated with reef habitat in Atlantic. Powerful suction pulls prey from holes in the reef.
Your learning progress stays on this device.
At a glance
- Eau
- Eau salée
- Habitat
- Récif
- Longueur maximale
- 430 cm
- Répartition
- Atlantique
- Famille
- Ginglymostomatidae
- Ordre
- Orectolobiformes
Observe
How to identify Nurse shark
- Powerful suction pulls prey from holes in the reef.
- Guide context: reef habitat in Atlantic.
- Reported maximum length: 430 cm — a genuinely giant fish. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.
Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.
Place and pattern
Where it lives—and how it behaves
Habitat and range
This species is associated with reef habitat across Atlantic. Reef crevices provide shelter while current, coral, algae, and neighboring animals supply food.
Behavior
Rests communally by day and feeds at night
Food-web connections
What it eats and why it matters
Diet
Crustaceans, molluscs, fish, and rays.
Ecological role
A bottom predator of hard-shelled prey.
Remember
One fact worth keeping
Nurse shark peut atteindre environ 430 cm et vit souvent près de Récif.
Think like a conservationist
A conservation lens
Reef fish are affected by coral loss, warming, destructive fishing, pollution, and the removal of key grazers or predators.
This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.
Recall
Quick knowledge check
Which habitat is most closely associated with Nurse shark in this guide?
Keep exploring
References and further reading
Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.
Make connections