Nurse Shark
Ginglymostoma cirratum
Sighting evidence at Sebastião Gomes Reef, Abrolhos Banks
Photo: Rafael de la Parra · CC BY-NC
Nurse sharks are permanent residents of the sandy channels and overhangs between reef pinnacles at Sebastião Gomes, where groups of 5 to 15 individuals pile together during daylight hours. They are primarily nocturnal hunters, using their small but powerful mouths to suck crustaceans and mollusks from crevices in the reef. Their docile daytime demeanor makes them an accessible and reliable large animal encounter at this otherwise advanced diving site.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Nurse Shark is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.