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Ginglymostoma cirratum (Bonnaterre, 1788) Nurse Shark

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Higher taxa:  Life   Vertebrata   Fish   Ginglymostomatidae   Ginglymostoma   Global map IDnature guides: Fish, Fish_species_NCSM, SFTEP We parsed the following live from the Web into this page. Such content is managed by its original site and not cached on Discover Life. Please send feedback and corrections directly to the source. See original regarding copyrights and terms of use. CalPhotos FishBase

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© Copyright Andy Arrison, 2006 Ginglymostoma cirratum	© Copyright Doug Perrine, 2006 Ginglymostoma cirratum
© Copyright Photographer/SFTEP, 2002 Ginglymostoma cirratum	© Copyright Gerald Allen, 2006 Ginglymostoma cirratum

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Overview

Main identification features broad flat round head 2 large ds brown under snout: 2 large barbels A large brownish shark with two dorsal fins of similar size; eyes small, oval; a pair of barbels below snout; grooves present between nostrils and mouth; mouth below, with multi-pointed teeth; 5 gill slits, 2 over pectoral; tail fin moderately long, about one-third of total length. Yellow brown to grey brown, with or without small dark spots and obscure saddle markings on back. Maximum total length reported as 430 cm, but usually under 300 cm. Occurs in a variety of shallow inshore habitats. From the intertidal zone to at least 130 m depth. From southern Baja and the Gulf of California to Peru, Malpelo; also on both sides of the Atlantic ocean. Attributes Abundance: Common. Cites: Not listed. Climate Zone: North Temperate (Californian Province &/or Northern Gulf of California); Northern Subtropical (Cortez Province + Sinaloan Gap); Northern Tropical (Mexican Province to Nicaragua + Revillagigedos); Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo); South Temperate (Peruvian Province ). Depth Range Max: 130 m. Depth Range Min: 1 m. Diet: octopus/squid/cuttlefish; bony fishes; mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs); mobile benthic gastropods/bivalves; sea-stars/cucumbers/urchins. Eastern Pacific Range: Northern limit=32; Southern limit=-18; Western limit=-115; Eastern limit=-70; Latitudinal range=50; Longitudinal range=45. Egg Type: Live birth; No pelagic larva. Feeding Group: Carnivore. FishBase Habitat: Reef Associated. Global Endemism: East Pacific + Atlantic (East +/or West); Transisthmian (East Pacific + Atlantic of Central America); East Pacific + all Atlantic (East+West); TEP non-endemic; All species. Habitat: Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom); Rocks; Sand & gravel; Reef (rock &/or coral); Soft bottom (mud, sand,gravel, beach, estuary & mangrove); Reef and soft bottom. Inshore Offshore: Inshore; Inshore Only. IUCN Red List: Not evaluated / Listed. Length Max: 430 cm. Regional Endemism: Island (s); Continent; Continent + Island (s); Eastern Pacific non-endemic; Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) non-endemic; All species. Residency: Resident. Salinity: Brackish; Marine. Water Column Position: Bottom; Bottom only;

Names

Scientific source:       Integrated Taxonomic Information System

Links to other sites

Fishbase Catalog of Fishes Integrated Taxonomic Information System

References

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Acknowledgements

Ross Robertson, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute I thank Ashley MacDonald and John Pickering, University of Georgia, for technical support in building this page.