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Nurse Shark
OrectolobiformesAttack Relevant

Nurse Shark

Ginglymostoma cirratum

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Max Length

3.0m

Overview

A bottom-dwelling Atlantic buccal pumper. Slow-moving and generally non-aggressive, but capable of powerful bites if provoked or harassed. Often rests in piles with other nurse sharks. Frequently seen by divers.

Habitat

Inshore from intertidal to depths of 165 ft [ 50 m] on rock and coral reefs, in channels in mangrove keys and reef flats.

Distribution

Western Atlantic & Caribbean

Western Atlantic from southern Brazil to Cape Hatteras with strays to Rhode Island, including Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Eastern Atlantic in Cape Verde Islands and along the coast of west Africa. Eastern Pacific from southern Baja to Peru.

Behavior

The shark is nocturnal; it is an active strong swimmer at night, but is sluggish by day. The shark uses its muscular pectoral fins to clamber over the bottom, but divers usually see the shark lying motionless on the bottom, often with its head in a crevice. By day, Nurse sharks may rest in aggregates of 2 to more than 30 individuals, leaning against or atop one another. The shark has a well-defined fixed home range and it may return to the same daytime resting site for long periods of time.

Human Safety

Placid and usually indifferent to divers.

Biology

Diet
Small fish and invertebrates: lobster, shrimps, crabs, squid, sea urchins, octopus, snails and bivalves.
Reproduction
Ovoviviparous
Birth Size
30cm
Male Maturity
2.5m

Appearance

Nurse Shark illustration
Dorsal
Gray-brown, yellow brown or brown body. Juveniles may have dark spots.

Dentition

Upper jaw
Teeth are similar in both jaws: a single large cusp, flanked on each side by 2 smaller cusps.
Sources:sharksorg

Recorded incidents involving the nurse shark

Recorded

110

Fatal

1

Fatality rate

0.9%

Years

1922–2025

Top countries

Years with most incidents

Counts are based on the species field of the Global Shark Attack File. Identifications by witnesses are often uncertain; treat figures as recorded incidents, not authoritative totals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shark attacks have been recorded involving the nurse shark?
110 incidents in the Global Shark Attack File mention the nurse shark, of which 1 were fatal (0.9%). Note that witness species identifications are often uncertain, so this is the count of recorded incidents.
Where do most nurse shark incidents occur?
The countries with the most recorded nurse shark incidents are United States, Australia, Bahamas.
Is the nurse shark dangerous to humans?
The nurse shark is considered relevant to human-shark incidents and has been recorded in the Global Shark Attack File. As with any large shark, encounters in the wild should be avoided.
Where does this species data come from?
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed taxonomy and published references. Incident data is sourced from the Global Shark Attack File and joined to species records by name match.
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