NURSE SHARK - (Ginglymostoma cirratum)

Posted March 21, 2008

The nurse shark has been recovering since 20th February 2008. It was trapped inside the net of a Bajau Pelauh (sea gypsy). When the shark first arrived at Gayana, it has several cuts on its body and which were immediately treated with antiseptic. Thankfully there was no internal injury and the shark is well on the road to recovery. The shark has been fed a steady diet of small fish.

The nurse shark is a common inshore bottom-dwelling shark and usually found in tropical and subtropical waters. Nurse shark are light yellowish brown to dark brown with or without small dark spots. They have flattened body and a broad, rounded head with two barbels between the nostrils which are used to help find food. They are common in reefs and often rest during the day on sandy bottoms or in caves and crevices. Nurse sharks are nocturnal animal which means they are very active during night time and spend most of their time in search of food. Their diet consists primarily of crustaceans, molluscs, tunicates and small fish. During day time they usually resting and hiding in crevices within the reef.

The nurse shark meat is not generally found in fish market but in some areas they are either caught or trapped and killed by fisherman because they are considered pests that raid bait and damage net intended for catching other species.