Nurse Shark
Ginglymostoma cirratum
Sighting evidence at El Aquario, Tayrona National Park
Photo: Rafael de la Parra · CC BY-NC
Nurse sharks use El Aquario's sandy channels as resting grounds throughout the day, lying motionless beneath coral ledges or clustered in groups of three to five individuals. They are benthic predators that hunt crustaceans and molluscs at night, returning to the same resting spots daily — a behaviour that makes this site one of Colombia's most reliable nurse shark encounters. Their docile nature and the park's no-fishing rules mean they have habituated to snorkellers and divers.
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.