tawny nurse shark

The tawny nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus) is a species of shark belonging to the family Ginglymostomatidae. This family also includes the Atlantic nurse shark and the shorttail nurse shark. The name "nurse shark" is thought to originate from an old English word for cat sharks or other large fish.1

Tawny nurse sharks are typically found in the western Pacific Ocean. They are bottom dwellers and often rest in caves or under reef escarpments. These sharks are powerful suction feeders, preying on crustaceans, fish, corals, and mollusks. They are sometimes preyed upon by larger sharks like tiger sharks. Unfortunately, populations of tawny nurse sharks are thought to be declining due to human activities such as blast fishing and disturbance by divers.1