Nurse shark
Ginglymostoma cirratum
(Bonnaterre, 1788)

Description:
Sharks with small eyes, set behind the termination of the small mouth. Upper lip with two barbels. Two dorsal fins, of nearly equal size, are set far back. Tail fin with a large and extended upper tail lobe and a small to indistinct lower lobe.
The color vary from gray to yellow-brown.
Size up to 3 meter in length (G. cirratum).

Habitat:
From shallow water to outer reefs.

Distribution:
Occasional Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Superclass Pisces
Class Chondrichthyes
Family Rhincodontidae
Genus Ginglymostoma
Species Ginglymostoma cirratum

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Ginglymostoma cirratum (Bonnaterre, 1788)

Scientific synonyms and common names

Nurse shark [English]
Carpet shark [English]
Zandhaai [Dutch]
Requin dormeur [French]
Ammenhai [German]
Atlantischer Ammenhai [German]
Tribon di santu [Papiamentu]

Humann, P., 1989. Reef Fish Identification - Florida Caribbean Bahamas, (ed. N. Deloach). New World Publications, Inc., Paramount Miller Graphics, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida.

Nagelkerken, W., 1980. Coral Reef Fishes of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. Published by the Island Territory of Curacao.

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