1. Ginglymostomidae Nurse Sharks Chris Bedore October 2, 2007

2. Taxonomy and Etymology Order Orectolobiformes Family Ginglymostomidae Genus Ginglymostoma Nebrius Pseudoginglymostoma ginglymostoma= “hinge mouth”

3. Morphology General characteristics 2 spineless dorsal fins, 1 anal fin barbels on nostrils, nasoral groove broad, flat head small spiracles behind small eyes ventral caudal lobe small or lacking small, multicuspid teeth small gill slits, 4 th and 5 th almost overlapping

4. Morphology

5. Distinguishing characteristics large caudal fin with strong terminal lobe and subterminal notch coloration- lacks patterns (saddles, stripes, spots)

6. Morphology

7. Ginglymostoma cirratum** ~300cm TL rounded fins yellow to grey-brown long barbels Nebrius ferrugineus ~315cm TL long barbels angular fins shades of brown Pseudoginglymostoma brevicaudatum ~75cm TL, dark brown short barbels dorsal fins same size

8. Habitat, Distribution, Lifestyle subtropical and tropical G. cirratum: especially E. Pacific and Atlantic continental waters associated with coral and rocky reefs, sandy bottom, lagoons, mangroves <1 to 12m basically benthic, but do swim around very common in Gulf of Mexico and FL Keys

9. Behavior like to hide in caves, under reefs nocturnal

10. Behavior docile, not aggressive will bite divers when provoked!

11. Behavior social, will rest in groups or piles of 20-30 individuals

12. Behavior although docile, spin on line when hooked (like an alligator)

13. Reproduction ovoviviparous, large yolk sac

14. Reproduction 20-30 pups/litter, at different stages due to ovulation 5-6 month gestation, mating in May-July Males mature 10-15 years, Females 15-20 years (~150cm TL)

15. Prey/Feeding habits benthic prey crustaceans, squid, teleosts, stingrays suction feeders- small mouth, large pharynx will eat any bait

16. Human Importance Nuiscance in some places- raid bait traps Not aggressive (unless provoked) Economic importance: tourism ex: Shark and Ray Alley, Belize aquarium not sportfish because sluggish, but flesh is edible

17. Conservation Status abundance has decreased exhibit site fidelity- anthropogenic activities threaten habitat (esp. mating /nursery grounds) IUCN Redlist: G. cirratum- data deficient; likely decreasing due to habitat N. ferrugineus- decreasing; bycatch in coastal fisheries P. brevicauda- data deficient, may be decreasing due to bycatch

18. Research Jeff Carrier (Albion College) and Wes Pratt (Mote Marine Lab) http://www.albion.edu/sharklab/default.asp probably most reproduction info of any species known multiple observed matings in FL Keys/Dry Tortugas- model for repro. behavior (see Pratt and Carrier, 2001) seasonal closures of mating grounds in Dry Tortugas (see Carrier and Pratt, 1998) Jose Castro (Mote Marine Lab)- detailed biology of the nurse shark (see Castro, 2000)

19. Research

20. Carrier J.C. and H.L. Pratt, Jr. 1998. Habitat management and closure of a nurse shark breeding and nursery ground. Fisheries Research 39:209-213. Castro, J.I. 1983. The sharks of North American waters. Texas A&M Univ. Press, College Station, TX. 180p. Castro JI. 2000. The biology of the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum, off the Florida east coast and the Bahama Islands. Environ. Biol. Fish. 58: 1-22. Compagno, L., M. Dando, and S. Fowler. 2005. Sharks of the World. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. 368p. Klimley A.P. 1980. Observations of courtship and copulation in the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum. Copeia 1980(4):878-882. Pratt H.L. and J.C. Carrier. 2001. A review of elasmobranch reproductive behavior with a case study on the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum. Environmental Biology of Fishes 60:157-188. Selected Works