Nurse Shark
Ginglymostoma cirratum
Sighting evidence at Barracuda Reef, Isla Mujeres
Photo: Rafael de la Parra · CC BY-NC
Nurse sharks rest in the sandy grooves between reef spurs throughout the day, often piled several animals deep in favoured overhangs, and become active predators of reef fish and invertebrates at night. Their sedentary daytime behaviour makes them extraordinarily approachable, though they are large animals capable of inflicting serious bites if harassed. The grooves of this reef host one of the densest aggregations of resting nurse sharks of any site around Isla Mujeres.
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.