Nurse Shark
Ginglymostoma cirratum
Sighting evidence at Monkey Reef, María la Gorda
Photo: Rafael de la Parra · CC BY-NC
Groups of 3 to 8 individuals rest on the sandy patches beneath plate coral throughout the day, a behaviour enabled by the site's low diver traffic and the Guanahacabibes reserve's no-take rules. Their nocturnal foraging on molluscs and crustaceans plays a key role in controlling urchin and conch populations on the surrounding reef. Pups are reliably sighted between August and October, suggesting the nearby shallows serve as a pupping area.
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.