Nervous Shark

About the Nervous Shark

The Nervous shark is a reef-associated tropical shark that’s part of the Requiem shark family. Native to the Western Pacific the Nervous shark can be found in areas like New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Northern and Western Australia. Commonly spotted in shallow water on the continental and insular shelves. This species of shark is threatened by inshore gill-net and line fisheries in the area which it occurs.

Biology and Behaviour:

The Nervous shark becomes sexually mature at about 85 cm in length, while the max length of this species is about 150cm. Female Nervous sharks mature at 5 to 6 years and reach maximum size at about 16 years old. The Nervous shark is rather skittish and timid when approached, this making them probably harmless or minimally hazardous to people. Given this species as a smaller shark it feeds mainly on small fish and crabs, and it’s only known to eat sea snakes.

Reproduction:

Young of a Nervous shark are produced by the parent giving birth to a live young that has developed inside the body. Females give birth to 2 to 6 pups per litter at two-year intervals. The size of the young at birth ranges from 35 to 39 cm in length.

Conservation: The IUCN lists the species as data deficient and more research is required for a better understanding of this particular species.

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