Nurse sharks are bottom-dwelling, slow-moving beauties found in the warm waters of the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans. Often also referred to as sleep sharks, nurse sharks have a wonderfully chilled nature and can usually be found resting on the sandy seabed during the day. If you want to learn a fact or two about these docile delights, read on for our top nurse shark facts.
Origins of the name
We'll begin our nurse shark facts by tracing the origins of their name. There are different theories about how the nurse shark got its common name, but the most repeated one is that it comes from the sucking sound they make when hunting for prey (which sounds similar to a nursing animal). Their scientific name, Ginglymostoma cirratum, is a mix of Greek and Latin and means 'curled, hinged mouth', in reference to the two barbels between their nostrils.
Appearance
Adult nurse sharks come in various shades ranging from yellowish brown to dark brown, while juveniles have a spotted colouration. They have flattened bodies and rounded heads, and, as previously mentioned, two barbels below their nostrils. Their mouths are filled with rows of small serrated teeth, and their powerful jaws are perfect for crushing tasty treats with hard shells.
Females are bigger
Nurse sharks are delightful to see when diving due to their large size. Most adults reach seven-and-a-half to nine-and-a-half feet in length, although some species have been found to measure up to 14 feet. They can weigh up to 330 pounds and, interestingly, the females tend to be larger than the males.
Where to find them
If you want to spy a nurse shark during a dive, then your best bet is to head for the warm and shallow waters of the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Ocean - we recommend venturing to Mexico or Belize. They spend their time around coral reefs, lurking in mangrove islands or resting on sandy flats. On some occasions, they've also been found in deeper waters (reaching depths of 75m), but we think it's easier to spot them in the shallows.
The Nurse Shark family
There are three types of nurse sharks found swimming in different corners of the world, all with the same slow-moving, laid-back nature. The Atlantic Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) enjoys hanging out in the warm waters of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Then there's the Tawny Nurse Shark (Nebrius ferrugineus), which loves the Indo-Pacific, especially its coral reefs. Finally, there's the more mysterious Shorttail Nurse Shark (Pseudoginglymostoma brevicaudatum), found near East Africa and Madagascar.
Docile nature
A wonderful nurse shark fact is that they are very docile creatures. Despite their large size, nurse sharks are generally non-aggressive (although, like with all animals, it's important to respect their space because they do have powerful jaws that will leave a mark). Their chilled, laid-back nature allows divers to get up close, so they're especially loved by underwater photographers. As they're nocturnal, you'll likely spy them on the seabed during daytime dives.
Feeding habits
Since we began our nurse shark facts by talking about their names and the sound they make when hunting, we had better explain what we mean in more detail. Nurse sharks use a suction method to pull their prey into their mouths - this suits their slow-moving pace of life. When a nurse shark spies a tasty treat, they'll swim slowly, relying on their stealth (unlike a hammerhead, which relies on speed) to get close to their prey. Once in position, they'll quickly suck their prey into their mouths. This suction is so powerful that they can even pull out prey that's hiding in crevices.
What do nurse sharks eat?
Nurse sharks aren't picky eaters; they're opportunistic feeders and prey on anything from fish and squid to sea urchins. Their powerful jaws and serrated teeth allow them to crush through any challenging meal, which is handy if they're in the mood for some crustaceans or coral.
Resting creatures
Our final fact about nurse sharks is how they differ from other shark species. Nurse sharks can rest on the sandy seafloor thanks to their ability to use buccal pumping - a method of pumping water over their gills, allowing them to breathe while remaining motionless. This is why you'll often spot them napping under a ledge when diving during the daytime.
