Nurse shark
Ginglymostoma cirratum
Sighting evidence at Grace Bay Reef, Turks and Caicos Islands
Photo: Rafael de la Parra · CC BY-NC
Nurse sharks are the quintessential Caribbean resting shark: slow, docile, and almost always found wedged under coral ledges during daylight hours. They are nocturnal hunters that cruise sandy flats for sleeping fish, crustaceans, and molluscs after dark. Despite their benign reputation they should not be approached or touched; their jaws can clamp with considerable force if startled.
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.