Are grey nurse sharks dangerous?
The Grey Nurse Shark is not aggressive, but may be dangerous if provoked or cornered. Much of its fearsome reputation probably derived from its impressive awl-like teeth with basal cusps designed for holding rather than cutting prey. It feeds largely on schooling fish.
What do grey nurse sharks do?
Sharks are the top predators in our oceans, and as such they are important for the marine ecosystems as important regulators of other species. They eat the weak, the old and the dead animals. The grey nurse sharks eat mainly lobsters, crabs, smaller sharks, fish, rays and squid.
Are grey nurse sharks illegal?
Although the sharks are protected today, they were commercially fished quite extensively in the past. Illegal fishing still occurs, and accidental capture by both commercial and recreational fishers also poses a serious threat.
Why is the gray nurse shark in danger?
The grey nurse shark’s reputation led to indiscriminate killing of the species by spear and line fishers. Current threats to the species are believed to be incidental catch from commercial fisheries, recreational fishing and, to a lesser extent, the bather protection programs run in New South Wales and Queensland.
What does a grey nurse shark look like?
The species has a large, rather stout body and is coloured grey to grey-brown dorsally, with a paler off white under belly. Reddish or brownish spots may occur on the caudal fin and posterior half of the body, particularly in juveniles.
What kind of shark is the tawny nurse shark?
It is a different species from the grey nurse shark (one of the names for the sand tiger shark, Carcharias taurus) and the tawny nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus, another type of carpet shark). Fast Facts: Nurse Shark Scientific Name: Ginglymostoma cirratum Distinguishing Features: Brown shark with rounded dorsal and pectoral fins and broad head
Is the grey nurse shark a threat to divers?
Despite their appearance Grey Nurse Sharks are not a threat to divers or swimmers and actually have a very placid nature. The sharks have two large dorsal fins of similar size. The tail is distinctive as the top lobe is larger than the bottom.
What kind of fish does the greynurse shark eat?
Greynurse Sharks feed on fishes, which are pierced with the sharp teeth. In some parts of the world, the species is known as the Spotted Ragged-Tooth. The reason for the this name is obvious. The species has fang-like teeth which are visible when the shark’s mouth is closed.
What do grey nurse sharks look like?
Grey Nurse Sharks have large, stout bodies, a pointed snout with many rows of visible teeth and small eyes. They are grey to grey-brown on top, paler underneath and sometimes have reddish or brownish spots on their backs. Despite their appearance Grey Nurse Sharks are not a threat to divers or swimmers and actually have a very placid nature.
How big do grey nurse sharks get?
Both males and females mature at about 2.2 m and reach a total length of about 3.6m . Pups measure an average of 1m in length at birth. The breeding of Grey Nurse Sharks is quite unusual. Mating occurs mainly in autumn and is followed by a 9 – 12 month gestation period and the young are born in winter.
How much do grey nurse sharks weigh?
The maximum reported length is 2.6 m (8.5 ft) and the maximum reported weight is 33.7 kg (74 lb).
Is a gray nurse shark dangerous?
Fortunately this species is quite harmless and it is the poor misunderstood grey nurse shark who’s appearance gives the impression that it could indeed be one of those ‘man eater’ shark species. However, the grey nurse shark is no longer considered a dangerous species by divers and is a very popular shark with aquariums due to its fierce looks, big pointy teeth and ability to survive well in captivity.
How do grey nurse sharks survive?
Some survive the injuries they sustain from fishing gear, but many don’t. An autopsy of a Grey Nurse Shark in 2000 revealed that the cause of death was the perforation of the stomach wall by numerous small hooks of the type used by recreational fishers.
What does a nurse shark?
Nurse sharks are nocturnal predators. Their diet consists of bottom-dwelling fish, octopus, squid, clams, conches, crabs, lobster, shrimp, sea urchins and coral. They have small mouths, but strong suction power that allows them to vacuum up food at high speeds.
Why are GREY nurse sharks in danger?
The grey nurse shark survives at ten small critical habitat sites along the NSW coastline which have been protected as part of its Recovery Plan. The key threat to the species is recreational and commercial line fishing. The sharks are hooked accidentally, and also ingest the hooks retained by their prey species.
What is the lifespan of a GREY nurse shark?
20 to 25 years
The scientific name for the Nurse Shark is Ginglymostoma cirratum. What is the lifespan of a Nurse Shark? Nurse Sharks can live for 20 to 25 years.
How big can an average GREY nurse shark get?
Both males and females mature at about 2.2m and reach a total length of about 3.6m. Pups measure an average of 1m in length at birth. The breeding of Grey Nurse Sharks is quite unusual.
