# Are Nurse Sharks Endangered?

> Are nurse sharks endangered? Status Vulnerable, main threats, and what protection means.

- **Species:** Nurse Shark (*Ginglymostoma cirratum*)
- **Conservation status:** Vulnerable
- **Diet:** Carnivore — fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and stingrays
- **Habitat:** Warm Atlantic and eastern Pacific coral reefs and sand flats
- **Lifespan:** 20–25 years in the wild
- **Top speed:** Up to 40 km/h (25 mph) in short bursts
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/nurse-shark/are-nurse-shark-endangered/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/nurse-shark/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The nurse shark is a slow-moving, bottom-dwelling shark of warm Atlantic and eastern Pacific coral reefs and sand flats. Reaching about 3 metres long and up to around 100 kg, it is known for its docile nature and habit of resting motionless on the seabed by day. It feeds at night on fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and stingrays, using powerful suction to draw prey from crevices. Nurse sharks live 20 to 25 years and are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need the full biology — use the [Nurse Shark profile](https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/nurse-shark/) instead.

## Appearance and identification

The nurse shark has a broad, flattened head, a rounded body, and a long tail that can make up much of its total length of around 3 metres. Its colour is usually a plain yellowish-brown to grey-brown, helping it blend with sandy and reef bottoms. Two distinctive barbels hang below the snout, fleshy whisker-like organs it uses to taste and feel for hidden prey. Large adults can weigh up to about 100 kg, and exceptional individuals reach roughly 150 kg.

## Help protect the Nurse Shark

Ocean wildlife is under mounting pressure from overfishing, bycatch and plastic pollution.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/nurse-shark/are-nurse-shark-endangered/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.