Quick answer
Key facts about nurse shark — size, diet, habitat, and conservation in one place.
Suction feeding
Strong pharyngeal muscles create vacuum to pull prey from holes — small mouth despite size. Barbels near nostrils sense hidden prey.
Daytime resting piles
Groups pile under ledges in daylight — passive behaviour makes them popular for tourism though handling stresses sharks.
Oviparous reproduction
Females lay egg cases in coral crevices — unusual among large sharks that mostly bear live young.
Conservation status
Vulnerable from reef degradation and historical fisheries — slow growth and localized populations hinder recovery.