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Nurse shark

(Ginglymostoma cirratum)

 

Category: Fish

 

 

Nurse sharks are common, bottom dwelling sharks typically found in shallow, tropical and sub-tropical, in-shore waters. Its most common habitats are reefs, channels between mangrove islands, and sand-flats. They are nocturnal, solitary hunters but often congregate during the day in groups of up to 40 inactive individuals. Nurse sharks can be quite crafty hunters, remaining stationary until unwitting crustaceans take shelter underneath them and are then ambushed and eaten by the shark!

 

Data & Facts

Scientific Classification
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Chondrichthyes
Order - Orectolobiformes
Family - Ginglymostomatidae
Genus - Ginglymostoma
Species - G. cirratum

 
Did you know?
Interesting Animal Facts

ABC. It’s easy as Protandry

The largest, most aggressive female anemonefish rules the roost - she is the dominant member of the social group, and with one breeding male, the only one who reproduces. In anemonefish society, everybody knows where they stand in the hierarchy! So when she leaves the group, everybody moves up one spot - including the largest, most aggressive male, who undergoes a sex change to become the leader (and breeding female) of the group. While undergoing a sex change might sound drastic to humans, it is actually not all that uncommon in other species. Many do it, either naturally or due to environmental factors: fish, invertebrates, amphibians, some reptiles, even the occasional chicken!

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