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GREY NURSE SHARK FACTS |
Description
The Greynurse Shark is grey-brown, pale brown or grey on top with whitish underside. The two dorsal fins and the anal fin are similar in size. It has a short pointed snout and small eyes. The tail has a distinct notch in the top lobe. Juveniles have darker spots that fade with age. Greynurse Shark is the only shark known to gulp and store air in its stomach to provide buoyancy. It is found singly or in schools.
Size
length to 3.2m. Weight to 159kg
Habitat
found inshore from the surf zone, shallow bays, on continental shelf to depth of at least 190m deep.
Food
fish, small sharks, rays, squids, crabs, lobsters
Breeding
Ovoviviparous. Gives birth to 2 pups after a 9-12 months gestation period.
Range
The Greynurse Shark is found in tropical and temperate waters in the Atlantic, Indian and western Pacific Oceans. In Australia it is found around the mainland coast, but not Tasmania.
Notes
The Greynurse Shark is sluggish and not considered dangerous to humans, but has been known to bite swimmers and be may be aggressive to spear fishers with fish.
Classification
| Class: | Chondrichthyes | | Order: | Lamniformes | | Family: | Odontaspididae | | Genus: | Carcharias | | Species: | taurus | | Common Name: | Grey Nurse Shark |
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