{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "nurse-shark",
  "name": "Nurse Shark",
  "scientificName": "Ginglymostoma cirratum",
  "category": "Fish",
  "summary": "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.",
  "conservationStatus": "Vulnerable",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Chondrichthyes",
    "order": "Orectolobiformes",
    "family": "Ginglymostomatidae",
    "genus": "Ginglymostoma"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 100,
    "lengthM": 3,
    "topSpeedKmh": 40,
    "lifespanYears": 25
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Ginglymostoma cirratum"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore — fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and stingrays"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Warm Atlantic and eastern Pacific coral reefs and sand flats"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "20–25 years in the wild"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "75–110 kg (165–240 lb); max about 150 kg"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 40 km/h (25 mph) in short bursts"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Vulnerable (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Warm Atlantic from Rhode Island to southern Brazil and West Africa; eastern Pacific from Baja to Peru.",
    "continents": [
      "Africa",
      "North America",
      "South America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Ginglymostoma cirratum.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Ginglymostoma%20cirratum&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Ginglymostoma cirratum. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ginglymostoma_cirratum/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/nurse-shark/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/nurse-shark/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}