Short-tail Nurse shark

About the Short-tail Nurse shark

The Short-tail nurse shark is an inshore bottom-dwelling shark found in shallow water and reefs Tropical waters. These sharks are native to the Western Indian Oceans commonly found around East Africa, Madagascar and possibly Mauritius and Seychelles. They are at risk due to heavy inshore artisanal fisheries. Finning is also an issue as the fins of these sharks are known to fetch moderate prices. They are also threatened by the destruction of its coral reef habitats.

Biology:

The short-tail nurse shark has an elongated body and a rounded stomach which dark brownish grey top and a paler underside.  the max length of a Short-tail nurse shark is about 75.0cm. The lifespan of this species is not fully known but they are estimated to live over 30 years.

Reproduction:

Their reproductive cycle is not fully understood, but they’re known to be oviparous.

Behaviour

The Short-tail nurse shark has been known to survive for many hours out of the water. They are also very well adapted to lie amongst coral reefs due to its tough skin.

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