The nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) is an elasmobranch fish within the family Ginglymostomatidae. Between their smaller size and non-aggressive temperaments, these sharks pose no threat to humans. Underwater model Irina Britanova, 27, tailed tawny nurse sharks … The long and short of it is that unless you have a commercial sized aquarium and a budget large enough to keep a nurse shark fed healthily through its potentially 25 year long captive lifespan, this is not the “pet” for you. The nurse shark is something of a large shark and while they more commonly grow to be anywhere from 7 1/2 feet to 9 3/4 feet long, some individuals in the species have been seen as large as 14 feet long. All of these solutions pose significant problems for the shark however. During the day, while most fish are active shoals of nurse sharks can be found hidden under ledges or in ocean crevices where they can rest peacefully during daylight hours. Attacks: 64 Fatalities: 2 Many people are familiar with the sand tiger (Carcharias taurus) as the large sharks you see when visiting an aquarium.They go by a number of names including grey nurse shark, ragged-tooth shark and blue-nurse sand tiger and are found in warm waters around the world. So these three species present no threat to humans. Bamboo Sharks are found in the coastal waters along Southeast Asia and the Australian continent. Even though they are ferocious predators, there have been extremely few cases of Nurse Sharks ever attacking humans and even when they did, it was when they were directly antagonized and provoked. The nurse shark is something of a large shark and while they more commonly grow to be anywhere from 7 1/2 feet to 9 3/4 feet long, some individuals in the species have been seen as large as 14 feet long. Usually when they encounter a human they will swim away, rather than investigate. In fact there are several species of shark that present no risk at all to humans. The nurse shark is one of the biggest predators that our oceans will ever see and this is crucial to the health of the ocean marine life. It feels like sandpaper.” Sometimes called the couch potatoes of the sea, nurse sharks are large, peaceful fish that slowly drift along the bottom of the ocean in shallow water, sucking up food as they go. As the waters become colder, the nurse shark simply becomes less active requiring less energy to function. These dorsal fins are much more rounded than they are in other species of shark and this fact along with the length of the tail fin can help significantly in shark species identification. They hunt alone at night but return to the same comfortable resting place during the day where they enjoy dozing in piles. Even then, there’s only been 5 Nurse Shark attacks and all have been non-fatal. Amy Brannan As mentioned previously attacks upon humans by nurse sharks are particularly unlikely; although in the past a handful of unprovoked attacks have been noted. Nurse sharks have particularly strong hinged jaws which contain thousands of small serrated teeth and they will not hesitate to bite humans in an attempt to defend themselves when threatened. They are definitely docile and shy, however, if provoked, they can be dangerous. Those who live in areas where the nurse shark inhabits the waters are generally familiar and on the lookout for the species but for those unfamiliar with the shark accidental interactions are more likely. Goblin Sharks are one of the scariest looking sharks in the ocean. Nurse sharks are easily identified by the small mouth located forward of the eyes and just under the broad snout. Grey nurse sharks form aggregations, generally in sand … Most commonly the nurse shark, due to its nature as a bottom dweller, is pushed to defending itself when it is stepped upon in shallow waters. The nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum, on the other hand, can be quite the asshole if threatened. The natural territory of these sharks is the Western Atlantic Ocean running from Rhode Island down to South Brazil and the Eastern Atlantic from Cameron to Gabon. Selling a nurse shark poses difficulty in that there are few saltwater aquarium owners who have the resources to take on such a large shark. Unlike other species like the infamous great white shark, the nurse shark is not as widely known by the general population. Most nurse sharks range in color from light to dark brown, though rare albino nurse sharks also exist. Captive bred nurse sharks are not given the opportunity to learn how to hunt for themselves, nor are they able to distinguish natural predators or other naturally occurring threats to their existence in the ocean. The only times they have ever attacked humans is when they have been directly antagonized and are protecting themselves. Aplacental viviparity refers to a process where eggs develop inside the female of the species after fertilization. Be warned though, they grow to be huge. Nurse sharks are typically harmless to humans. Nurse sharks have particularly strong hinged jaws which contain thousands of small serrated teeth and they w… Despite their size most nurse sharks are recognized as being harmless to humans but with such large tooth filled jaws these sharks can cause a significant amount of damage if they do bite a human. 4 Comments. ‘Carpet shark’ is the common name for the group of 39 Orectolobiformes sharks. Nurse sharks are “for the most part, harmless to humans,” according to National Geographic. Since most hunting is done at night, the nurse shark feels along the bottom of the ocean floor for prey items and attacks them with its thousands of serrated teeth when an item is located. They are also one of the most social sharks of the ocean and tend to spend time in groups just lounging on the ocean floor. The individual tooth structure of the nurse shark is particularly interesting but also particularly damaging. This system of replaceable teeth ensures that the nurse shark does not starve due to tooth loss which is a common occurrence even for a shark that prefers to feed on smaller fish and crustaceans. Though they are ferocious predators, they mainly just hang out along the bottom of the ocean in shallow waters and wait for prey. Otherwise, even though they are incredibly prolific, they are not aggressive. Commonly the nurse shark returns to the same location to rest during the day. While adult nurse sharks can be found in depths of up to 250 feet, juvenile nurse sharks, like this growing guy, tend to stick to shallower water, frequently keeping themselves hidden in coral reefs. Information About Sharks, For Shark Lovers, Sharks Of The World Have Added Some Strange Items To Their Diet, Blue Shark Facts That Will Not Make You Blue, 5 Interesting Locations That Different Types Of Sharks Have Been Found. Sand tiger sharks, Carcharias taurus, also known as grey nurse shark, spotted ragged tooth shark, or blue-nurse sand tiger, are generally not a threat to humans. They have acquired this unique colloquial name as many species resemble ornately patterned carpets. These small sharks measure around 48 in (121 cm) in length. There are three genera of sharks to be found within the Ginglymostomatidae family, the Ginglymostoma, Nebrius and Psudoginglymostoma. It is doubtful that at the moment this particular shark species is threatened with extinction; however, if they continue to be fished there is a possibility that one day they may face endangerment. However, not only are they not a particularly aggressive shark, they hunt in very deep ocean waters at a minimum of 330 ft (100 m) so very few humans ever encounter them in the wild. However, even though these are an aggressive species of shark, there have only been 5 total Thresher Shark attacks on humans, all have been provoked, and four happened when a Thresher Shark was brought aboard a boat. Like This Article? One can go near a resting individual without much fear. The ability of this shark species to endure captivity has led to the sale of juvenile nurse sharks in the saltwater aquarium trade. The nurse shark pups resemble the fully grown nurse sharks with the exception of, of course, their size. As the eggs develop within the female nurse shark they eventually hatch and the mother gives birth to small live nurse sharks. Even then, there’s only been 5 Nurse Shark attacks and all have been non-fatal. Nurse sharks that live near marinas are fed by local fisherman and have grown accustomed to … But they “have very strong jaws filled with thousands of tiny, serrated teeth, and will bite defensively if stepped on or bothered by divers who assume they’re docile.” Not only does the fully grown shark require an extremely large tank but it also requires a significant amount of food to remain healthy. But provocation may lead to a sharp bite. Nurse sharks are slow-moving bottom-dwellers and are, for the most part, harmless to humans. This docile behavior is made possible through the ability of the nurse shark to breathe through its mouth and out of its gills. Model swims NAKED with sharks to prove the creatures are not dangerous to humans Warning: Graphic content. Here's a look at a Nurse Shark bite and treatment thereafter. The only time an Angel Shark has been known to attack is when they’ve been stepped on. Were the nurse shark species to become extinct the smaller marine life that these sharks feed upon would soon begin to grow out of control and put other species in danger as they succumbed to large populations of these creatures. The nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum, on the other hand, can be quite the asshole if threatened. They are a long lived, late maturing species with a very low reproductive rate (maximum of 2 pups every 2 years). So to help dispel the myth that all sharks are bloodthirsty, human hunting predators, we have compiled a list of the 10 least dangerous sharks. Female nurse sharks are capable of producing eggs every 18 months but this does not guarantee that they will mate every 18 months like clockwork. While most sharks have a rough texture similar to sandpaper, the skin of the nurse shark is much more like that of the dolphin and has a smooth texture to it. Like any other animal that is raised in captivity, nurse sharks are unable to adapt to life in the wild because of a lack of the skills demanded to survive. Written by Smrutica Jithendranath - Marine Biologist, Reethi Faru Resort, the Maldives. Sign Up for More Earth-Friendly Tips and Advice! Donating a fully grown nurse shark to a local aquarium is also not a particularly feasible solution as most aquariums already have an established shark population and are unable to take on new individuals with their limited resources and financial support. Where many species of shark are fished intentionally, there is not a particularly wide trade for commercially fishing the nurse shark. Young nurse sharks have little black spots along their backs. Biology. They are often found just above the sea bed or in deep, sandy-bottomed gutters or rocky caves, such those around Broughton Island or Tomaree headland. Currently the conservation status of the nurse shark is unknown because there is an insufficiency of data available to determine whether these sharks are at risk for extinction. The teeth are arranged in rows and as one tooth breaks or is lost during a struggle, a fight or during feeding, another of the teeth rotates in to take its place. Nurse sharks are slow-moving, bottom-dwellers of the ocean who relatively harmless to humans. What is very interesting about Nurse Sharks is that they are nocturnal so they are active at night. Being slow-moving dwellers at the bottom of the oceans, nurse sharks are also harmless to humans. Though Leopard Sharks are found in the same shallow waters humans often swim in, there has never been a case of a Leopard Shark attacking a person. Younger nurse sharks often can be recognized from small spots on their skin. Nurse sharks are slow-moving, bottom-dwellers of the ocean who relatively harmless to humans. These beautiful, docile creatures are not dangerous at all. Despite their size most nurse sharks are recognized as being harmless to humans but with such large tooth filled jaws these sharks can cause a significant amount of damage if they do bite a human. Where many other sharks possess a sandpaper like texture to their skin, the smooth texture of the nurse shark gives it a leather like quality that is utilized in the textiles industry. Nurse Shark One of the better known species of shark, nurse sharks are usually the first species that comes to mind when people think of non-aggressive sharks. Photo: Thomas Males. Though they are one of the largest predatory sharks in the ocean, measuring up to a whopping 24 ft (7.3 m), these sharks have not been known to attack humans. That is why many divers and snorkelers visit the Bahamas to swim with sharks. Despite their fierce appearance, grey nurse sharks are not considered dangerous to humans. The downside is that the nurse shark's small mouth is attached to a large pharynx that enables it to suck up food and latch onto it. Nurse Sharks are a wonderful, docile species that are nicknamed the “couch potatoes of the ocean.” They are a favorite shark among divers to swim and snorkel with because you can get up close to them and still be very safe. Nurse Sharks are a wonderful, docile species that are nicknamed the “couch potatoes of the ocean.” They are a favorite shark among divers to swim and snorkel with because you can get up close to them and still be very safe. The grey nurse shark is a particularly interesting process and is referred to biologists. Within this diversity, they have been directly antagonized and are protecting themselves be quite the asshole threatened! 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