Nurse Shark: Bottom-Dwelling Behavior and Myths

The nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) is a slow-moving, bottom-dwelling elasmobranch found in warm coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean. This article describes its sedentary lifestyle, suction-feeding mechanism, mating site fidelity, and social behavior, and addresses common misconceptions about its aggression. The practical outcome is a myth versus fact table and a behavioral observation checklist for divers, researchers, and life-science professionals who encounter nurse sharks in the wild or in managed care.

At a Glance

Species Identity and Taxonomic Context

The nurse shark belongs to the family Ginglymostomatidae within the order Orectolobiformes. It is one of the most studied shark species for immune system research because of its unique antibody molecules. The nurse shark genome contains approximately 15 IgM heavy chain loci, and its immunoglobulin genes undergo somatic hypermutation similar to that seen in mammals. This makes the species valuable for comparative immunology research beyond its ecological importance. A 2024 study localized three IgNAR loci in the nurse shark genome, with two of these being expressed, advancing understanding of shark antibody biology and potential medical applications. These findings appear in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences study on IgNAR genomic localization.

The species is also notable for its slow growth and long lifespan. Mark-recapture data from Bimini, The Bahamas, collected from 2003 to 2020, produced von Bertalanffy growth parameters with an asymptotic total length of 303.28 cm and a growth coefficient of 0.04 per year. The average growth rate was approximately 8.68 cm per year, and the oldest individual in that study was predicted to be 43 years old. These findings indicate that the nurse shark is slow-growing and long-lived, which has direct implications for population management and conservation decisions. The Frontiers in Marine Science study provides the first growth curve for this species.

Bottom-Dwelling Habitat and Distribution

Nurse sharks occupy shallow coastal waters, coral reefs, mangrove areas, and sandy flats throughout the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean. They are most frequently encountered in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida waters, and along the coasts of Central and South America. The species is abundant in coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean, yet many aspects of its life history remain understudied apart from reproductive behavior.

Citizen science data from the Cayman Islands Sharklogger Network documented nurse sharks as one of the three most frequently observed shark species across 472 dive sites. Over two years, participants conducted 24,442 dives and recorded 4,666 shark sightings from eight species. The data showed that nurse sharks exhibited species-specific depth and habitat preferences, and recognizable individuals demonstrated relatively small home ranges and high site fidelity to specific areas. The study also provided the first confirmation of reproductive behavior in nurse sharks taking place in summer from May to August. These findings are reported in the PLoS One study on the Sharklogger Network.

The sedentary nature of nurse sharks makes them particularly vulnerable to localized habitat disturbance. Unlike highly migratory species, nurse sharks may remain within a small home range for years, meaning that degradation of a specific reef or coastal area can directly affect a resident population. This behavioral trait should inform coastal zone management decisions and marine protected area design.

Suction Feeding Mechanism and Foraging Constraints

The nurse shark is an obligate suction feeder, meaning it captures prey by generating negative pressure that draws water and prey into its mouth. Its cranial morphology exhibits a suite of structural and functional modifications that facilitate this mode of prey capture. During suction feeding, subambient pressure is generated by the ventral expansion of the hyoid apparatus and the floor of the buccopharyngeal cavity. The Journal of Morphology study documented that suction pressures in the nurse shark include the greatest subambient pressures reported for an aquatic-feeding vertebrate.

The feeding sequence in nurse sharks includes expansive, compressive, and recovery kinematic phases that produce posterior-directed water flow through the buccopharyngeal cavity. Unlike suction-feeding bony fishes, there is generally neither a preparatory phase nor cranial elevation. Suction is generated by rapid depression of the buccopharyngeal floor by the coracoarcualis, coracohyoideus, and coracobranchiales muscles. Because the hyoid arch is loosely connected to the mandible, contraction of the rectus cervicis muscle group can greatly depress the floor of the buccopharyngeal cavity below the depressed mandible, resulting in large volumetric expansion.

Maximum suction pressure does not appear to be related to shark size but is correlated with the rate of buccopharyngeal expansion. Suction is only effective within approximately 3 cm in front of the mouth. This constraint means the foraging behavior of the nurse shark is most likely limited to ambushing or stalking prey. Prey capture may be facilitated by foraging within reef confines and close to the substrate, which can enhance the effective suction distance, or by foraging at night when prey are less able to detect the approaching predator.

Sensory Modulation During Prey Capture

Nurse sharks can modulate their prey capture kinematics in response to changes in sensory information. A comparative study of three shark species with different feeding morphologies filmed nurse sharks using high-speed videography while they captured live prey. Sharks were examined intact and after sensory information was blocked, including olfaction, vision, mechanoreception, and electroreception, alone and in combination. The Zoology study found that when visual cues were absent, nurse sharks opened the mouth wider, extended the labial cartilages further, and increased suction while simultaneously decreasing ram. Unlike some bony fish, nurse sharks did not switch feeding modalities from suction to ram or vice versa.

This sensory flexibility has practical implications for divers and researchers. A nurse shark that cannot see its prey will rely more heavily on suction and may approach more slowly. Understanding this behavior can help divers predict how a nurse shark will respond when approached from different angles or in low-visibility conditions.

Mating Behavior and Site Fidelity

The Dry Tortugas courtship and mating ground has been known as a mating site for nurse sharks since 1895. A 30-year study from 1992 to 2021 documented long-term site fidelity to this area with data from 137 adult sharks, including 89 females and 48 males. Of 118 sharks tagged from 1993 to 2014, at least 80, or 68%, returned to the mating ground in subsequent years during the June to July mating season. Known individuals returned in up to 16 different mating seasons and over periods of up to 28 years, indicating that lifespan extends well into the forties for this species. These findings are detailed in the PLoS One study on mating site fidelity.

Of all returning sharks, 59% were monitored for over 10 years and 13% were monitored for over 20 years. Males arrived annually in May and June and departed in July, whereas females arrived biennially or triennially in June, with a secondary peak in site use in September and August, likely associated with thermoregulation during gestation. During the mating season, males made more frequent visits of shorter duration, with a median of 34 visits for 1 hour per visit, whereas females made fewer visits but remained on site for longer periods, with a median of 12.5 visits for 4.4 hours per visit.

Females typically mated biennially but showed a triennial cycle in 32% of cases, with many females switching cycles at least once. This pattern would reduce the potential reproductive lifetime output of a female by 11% compared to what would be projected from a strict biennial cycle. The long-term mating site fidelity of this shark population reveals the importance of identifying and protecting mating sites for this and other elasmobranch species.

Female Evasive Mating Behavior

Female nurse sharks exhibit evasive mating behavior in equatorial insular breeding grounds. The Neotropical Ichthyology study on evasive mating behavior documents that females actively avoid male mating attempts, a behavior that likely influences the observed mating cycles and site use patterns. This behavior has implications for understanding the reproductive dynamics of the species and for interpreting observations of nurse shark interactions during the mating season.

Social Behavior and Aggregation Patterns

Nurse sharks are generally considered solitary or loosely social animals, but they do form aggregations in specific contexts. The Sharklogger Network data from the Cayman Islands showed that nurse sharks were encountered throughout the year and exhibited species-specific distribution patterns. Greater abundance of sharks was recorded in areas with less anthropogenic activity and with greater exposure to strong currents, regardless of whether the area was a marine protected area.

The Environmental Biology of Fishes study on discrete foraging behaviors used opportunistic camera surveys to document foraging behaviors in nurse sharks. While the abstract was not available for detailed evidence extraction, the title indicates that nurse sharks exhibit discrete foraging behaviors that can be observed through non-invasive camera methods. This approach is relevant for researchers seeking to study nurse shark behavior without disturbing the animals.

Nurse sharks may aggregate in resting groups during the day, often in crevices or under ledges. These resting aggregations are distinct from mating aggregations and serve a different purpose. Divers should recognize that a group of resting nurse sharks is not displaying social bonding but rather a shared preference for shelter.

Common Myths About Nurse Shark Aggression

Several misconceptions about nurse shark aggression persist in popular media and among recreational divers. The following table addresses the most common myths with documented evidence.

The myth that nurse sharks are aggressive toward humans likely stems from their large size and the fact that they will bite if provoked or stepped on. However, their feeding morphology and behavior do not support the idea that they actively hunt large prey. The suction feeding mechanism is adapted for capturing small benthic organisms, not for biting large animals. Divers who understand this distinction can make informed decisions about how to behave around nurse sharks.

Behavioral Observation Checklist for Divers

The following checklist is designed for divers, researchers, and life-science professionals who want to observe nurse shark behavior in a structured and non-invasive manner. The checklist is based on documented behaviors from the approved evidence sources.

Pre-Dive Preparation

1. Confirm the dive site is known to host nurse sharks. Citizen science data from the Cayman Islands showed that nurse sharks are among the most frequently observed species at many Caribbean dive sites.
2. Review the local code of conduct for shark diving if one exists. Studies of grey nurse shark diving tourism in Australia found that diver compliance with codes of conduct ranged from 88 to 100%, and clear stipulations promoted compliance.
3. Prepare a data sheet or underwater slate to record observations. The Sharklogger Network used a standardized, effort-based protocol that proved reliable for long-term monitoring.

During the Dive

1. Record the number of nurse sharks visible at the start of the observation period. Note whether they are resting, swimming, or feeding.
2. Document the behavior of each shark using scan samples at 2-minute intervals. The grey nurse shark study at Fish Rock, Australia, used this method successfully to document shark behavior in the presence of divers.
3. Note the distance between you and the shark. The grey nurse shark study found that jaw gaping, rapid withdrawal, and stiff or jerky movements were associated with distance between divers and sharks and the presence of six or more divers.
4. Record whether the shark is milling or actively swimming. The grey nurse shark study found that sharks spent 85% of their time milling and 15% actively swimming, and milling behavior significantly decreased in the presence of more than six divers.
5. Observe feeding behavior if it occurs. Note whether the shark is suction feeding near the substrate or within reef confines.
6. Record the time of day. Nurse sharks may forage at night when prey are less able to detect the approaching predator.

Post-Dive Recording

1. Transfer observations to a permanent record within 24 hours.
2. Note any behaviors that exceeded the expected range for the species. The stochastic locomotor control model for nurse sharks allows for sensitive detection of subtle locomotor responses to sensory stimulation, as values of variables may exceed established confidence limits within minutes after onset of a stimulus.
3. Report any signs of distress, injury, or unusual behavior to the appropriate local authority or research program.

Locomotor Behavior and Activity Patterns

The locomotor behavior of the nurse shark is characterized by 17 variables, including frequency and ratios of left, right, and total turns, their radians, straight paths, distance traveled, and velocity. The Journal of Mathematical Biology study developed a stochastic model that predicts their behavior within 90% confidence limits. The model allows for the sensitive detection of subtle locomotor responses to sensory stimulation, as values of variables may exceed the established confidence limits within minutes after onset of the stimulus.

The locomotor activity is well described by an autoregression time series model and can be predicted by only seven variables. Six of these form two independently operating clusters. The first cluster consists of the number of right turns, the distance traveled, and the mean velocity. The second cluster consists of the mean size of right turns, of left turns, and of all turns. Among a total of 17 locomotor variables, seven behave as individually independent agents, presumably controlled by seven separate and independent centers.

This statistical model has practical applications for researchers studying nurse shark responses to environmental stimuli. By establishing baseline locomotor parameters, researchers can detect when a nurse shark responds to a specific stimulus, such as the presence of divers, changes in water temperature, or noise.

Age, Growth, and Life History Implications

The age and growth study from Bimini, The Bahamas, provides the first von Bertalanffy growth parameters and growth curve for the nurse shark. The study used mark-recapture data of 91 individual nurse sharks from 2003 to 2020. The Fabens method for estimating growth from mark-recapture methods was applied through a Bayesian framework using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. This provided growth parameters with an asymptotic total length of 303.28 cm and a growth coefficient of 0.04 per year. The average growth rate was approximately 8.68 cm per year.

The study also suggested that the previous maximum age for the nurse shark is likely underestimated, with the oldest individual predicted to be 43 years old. This finding has significant implications for population management. A species that grows slowly and lives for over four decades will have a low reproductive turnover and will be slow to recover from population declines. Conservation decisions should account for these life history traits.

The Frontiers in Marine Science study indicates that the nurse shark is slow-growing and long-lived, which improves understanding of their life history. For fisheries managers, this means that any harvest of nurse sharks should be carefully regulated, and for aquarium managers, it means that long-term care commitments are required.

Research Applications and Comparative Immunology

The nurse shark has become an important model organism for immunology research. The Journal of Immunology study on somatic hypermutation estimated approximately 15 IgM heavy chain loci in the nurse shark genome and characterized one locus. The study found that considerable diversity was generated by trimming and N addition at the three junctions and by varied recombination patterns of the two D gene segments. The nature of the substitution patterns is the same as for mutants from six loci of two nurse shark light chain isotypes, showing that somatic hypermutation events are very similar at both heavy and light chain genes in this early vertebrate.

A 2023 study in Frontiers in Immunology identified shark LAG-3 and showed that a previously identified shark CD4-like gene has a genomic location, expression pattern, and motifs similar to CD4 in other vertebrates. In nurse sharks, the highest CD4 expression was consistently found in the thymus. Throughout jawed vertebrates, the CD4 cytoplasmic tail possesses a Cx(C/H) motif for binding kinase LCK, and the LAG-3 cytoplasmic tail possesses an FxxL inhibitory motif resembling an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif.

The International Journal of Molecular Sciences study localized the IgNAR loci in the nurse shark genome and resolved previously missing regions. Three IgNAR loci were identified, designated GcIgNAR1, GcIgNAR2, and GcIgNAR3, with only GcIgNAR1 and GcIgNAR2 being expressed. Most nurse shark IgNARs possess five constant domains, but transcripts of GcIgNAR1 and GcIgNAR2 lacking two constant domains were found. These findings advance scientific understanding of IgNAR in nurse sharks and facilitate future research and medical applications.

Shark-derived VNAR antibodies have been developed for diagnostic applications. A 2026 study in Frontiers in Immunology developed specific single-domain antibodies derived from sharks against the H9N2 subtype of avian influenza virus. The recombinant anti-H9N2 VNAR demonstrates high specificity for hemagglutinin binding activity and can specifically recognize, bind to, and neutralize the H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus. These VNAR molecules possess high application potential as candidate drugs for diagnosis and prevention of H9N2 infections.

Common Failure Patterns in Nurse Shark Observation and Management

Several common failure patterns can compromise nurse shark observation efforts and management decisions. Recognizing these patterns helps researchers, divers, and managers avoid errors.

Overcrowding at Observation Sites

The grey nurse shark study at Fish Rock, Australia, found that milling behavior significantly decreased in the presence of more than six divers. Jaw gaping, rapid withdrawal, and stiff or jerky movements were associated with distance between divers and sharks and the presence of six or more divers. This finding suggests that limiting the number of divers per interaction with a school of sharks may be necessary to minimize behavioral disturbance. The Environmental Management study documented that grey nurse shark dive tourists were compliant with stipulations in the code of conduct and legislation, with compliance ranging from 88 to 100%.

Misinterpreting Resting Behavior as Aggression

Nurse sharks often rest motionless on the sea floor or under ledges during the day. Divers may misinterpret this behavior as a prelude to attack. In fact, the suction feeding mechanism of the nurse shark is only effective within approximately 3 cm in front of the mouth, and the foraging behavior is constrained to ambushing or stalking. A resting nurse shark is not preparing to strike.

Ignoring Site Fidelity in Management Decisions

The long-term mating site fidelity documented at the Dry Tortugas mating ground demonstrates that nurse sharks return to specific sites for decades. Management decisions that ignore this site fidelity may inadvertently disrupt critical reproductive habitat. The PLoS One study emphasizes the importance of identifying and protecting mating sites for this and other elasmobranch species.

Assuming Uniform Behavior Across Contexts

Nurse shark behavior varies by context, including time of day, presence of divers, and reproductive status. The stochastic locomotor control model demonstrates that nurse shark behavior follows predictable statistical patterns but can change rapidly in response to sensory stimulation. Researchers and divers should not assume that a behavior observed in one context will be repeated in another.

Limitations of Current Knowledge

Several gaps remain in the scientific understanding of nurse shark behavior and ecology. The age and growth study from Bimini noted that many aspects of nurse shark life history remain relatively understudied aside from reproductive behavior. The study was the first to present von Bertalanffy growth parameters and a growth curve for the species, indicating that basic life history data were previously unavailable.

The Marine Biodiversity study on xanthism documents the first record case of free-living xanthism in the nurse shark from the Caribbean Sea. Xanthism is a color abnormality that results in yellow pigmentation. While the abstract was not available for detailed evidence extraction, the title indicates that this is a rare color variant documented in a free-living individual.

The Nursing Times article on swimming with sharks is a bibliographic record without an available abstract. The title suggests it addresses the practice of swimming with sharks, but no specific evidence can be extracted from this source.

Research on nurse shark foraging behavior using camera surveys is relatively recent. The Environmental Biology of Fishes study used opportunistic camera surveys to document discrete foraging behaviors, but the abstract was not available for detailed evidence extraction. This suggests that observational methods for studying nurse shark foraging are still being developed.

Professional Escalation Criteria

Researchers, divers, and managers should escalate concerns to appropriate authorities or specialists under specific conditions.

For Divers

1. If a nurse shark displays jaw gaping, rapid withdrawal, or stiff or jerky movements in response to your presence, slowly increase your distance. These behaviors were associated with distance between divers and sharks in the grey nurse shark study.
2. If you observe a nurse shark with visible injuries, entanglement in fishing gear, or abnormal coloration, report the sighting to the local marine management authority or a research program such as the Sharklogger Network.
3. If you observe mating behavior, record the location and time and report it to a research program. The Sharklogger Network provided the first confirmation of reproductive behavior in nurse sharks taking place in summer from May to August.

For Researchers

1. If you observe nurse shark behavior that falls outside the 90% confidence limits of the stochastic locomotor control model, document the stimulus conditions and consider whether a novel environmental factor is present.
2. If you are studying nurse shark populations, incorporate mark-recapture methods to estimate growth parameters. The Bimini study used mark-recapture data over 17 years to calculate growth parameters.
3. If you are managing a protected area that contains nurse shark mating habitat, consider the long-term site fidelity documented at the Dry Tortugas mating ground. Protection of mating sites is vital for species management.

For Aquarium and Managed Care Professionals

1. If you are maintaining nurse sharks in captivity, account for their slow growth rate and long lifespan. The average growth rate is approximately 8.68 cm per year, and individuals may live into their forties.
2. If you are breeding nurse sharks in captivity, account for the biennial and triennial reproductive cycles documented in wild populations. Females typically mated biennially but showed a triennial cycle in 32% of cases.
3. If you observe reproductive behavior in captive nurse sharks, document the conditions and compare them to the mating season timing documented in wild populations, which occurs from June to July in the Dry Tortugas.

Safety Context for Divers and Researchers

Nurse sharks are not considered a significant threat to divers when approached with appropriate caution. Their suction feeding mechanism is adapted for capturing small benthic organisms, and their effective suction range is limited to approximately 3 cm in front of the mouth. However, like all wild animals, nurse sharks may bite if provoked, stepped on, or cornered.

The grey nurse shark diving tourism studies provide a useful model for safe shark diving practices. The Environmental Management study found that diver compliance with codes of conduct ranged from 88 to 100%, and the Tourism Management study examined tourist demographics, shark behavior, and diver compliance. These studies suggest that clear stipulations, locality of the target species, and diver perceptions of sharks promote compliance in wildlife tourism operations.

Divers should maintain a respectful distance from nurse sharks, avoid blocking their escape routes, and never attempt to touch or feed them. The presence of more than six divers was associated with decreased milling behavior in grey nurse sharks, suggesting that large groups of divers can disturb shark behavior. Limiting group size and maintaining quiet, slow movements can minimize disturbance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are nurse sharks dangerous to humans?

Nurse sharks are obligate suction feeders that prey on benthic invertebrates and fish. Their suction is only effective within approximately 3 cm in front of the mouth, and their foraging behavior is constrained to ambushing or stalking. They do not actively hunt large prey. However, like all wild animals, they may bite if provoked, stepped on, or cornered. Divers should maintain a respectful distance and avoid touching or feeding them.

Why do nurse sharks rest motionless on the sea floor?

Nurse sharks are sedentary, bottom-dwelling animals that rest during the day, often in crevices or under ledges. This resting behavior is normal and does not indicate aggression or illness. Their locomotor behavior follows predictable statistical patterns, and they may respond to sensory stimulation by changing their activity levels within minutes.

How do nurse sharks capture their prey?

Nurse sharks use suction feeding to capture prey. They generate subambient pressure by expanding the hyoid apparatus and the floor of the buccopharyngeal cavity. Suction pressures include the greatest subambient pressures reported for an aquatic-feeding vertebrate, but suction is only effective within approximately 3 cm in front of the mouth. This constraint limits them to ambushing or stalking prey close to the substrate.

Do nurse sharks return to the same mating sites every year?

Yes. A 30-year study at the Dry Tortugas courtship and mating ground documented that at least 68% of tagged adult nurse sharks returned to the site in subsequent years during the June to July mating season. Known individuals returned in up to 16 different mating seasons and over periods of up to 28 years.

How fast do nurse sharks grow?

Mark-recapture data from Bimini, The Bahamas, collected from 2003 to 2020, produced an average growth rate of approximately 8.68 cm per year. The asymptotic total length was estimated at 303.28 cm, and the oldest individual was predicted to be 43 years old. This indicates that nurse sharks are slow-growing and long-lived.

Do nurse sharks interact with other shark species?

Nurse sharks are generally solitary or loosely social, but they may share habitat with other shark species. Citizen science data from the Cayman Islands documented nurse sharks alongside Caribbean reef sharks and hammerhead species. The data showed species-specific distribution and abundance patterns, with greater shark abundance in areas with less anthropogenic activity.

Can nurse shark behavior be predicted statistically?

Yes. A stochastic locomotor control model characterizes nurse shark locomotion using 17 variables, and their behavior can be predicted within 90% confidence limits. The model allows for sensitive detection of subtle locomotor responses to sensory stimulation, as values of variables may exceed established confidence limits within minutes after onset of a stimulus.

Why are nurse sharks important for medical research?

Nurse sharks have a unique immune system that includes immunoglobulin new antigen receptors, or IgNAR, which are single-domain antibodies with potential medical applications. Research has localized three IgNAR loci in the nurse shark genome and identified shark-derived VNAR antibodies that can detect and neutralize viruses such as avian influenza H9N2. These molecules have high application potential for diagnosis and prevention of infectious diseases.

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References and Further Reading

• NCBI Literature Resources. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
• PubMed. National Library of Medicine.
• Grey nurse shark (Carcharias taurus) diving tourism: Tourist compliance and shark behaviour at Fish Rock, Australia.. Environmental management, 2010.
• Long-term use of a shark breeding ground: Three decades of mating site fidelity in the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum.. PloS one, 2022.
• Swimming with sharks.. Nursing times, 2002.
• Functional morphology of the feeding apparatus, feeding constraints, and suction performance in the nurse shark Ginglymostoma cirratum.. Journal of morphology, 2008.
• Modulation of shark prey capture kinematics in response to sensory deprivation.. Zoology (Jena, Germany), 2017.
• CD4 and LAG-3 from sharks to humans: related molecules with motifs for opposing functions.. Frontiers in immunology, 2023.
• Somatic hypermutation and junctional diversification at Ig heavy chain loci in the nurse shark.. Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950), 2005.
• A stochastic locomotor control model for the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum.. Journal of mathematical biology, 1978.
• Recurrent Alternate Parthenogenesis in the Common Smooth-Hound Shark (&lt,i&gt,Mustelus mustelus&lt,/i&gt,) with Additional Cases and Further Evidence for a Putative Adaptive Reproductive Strategy.. 2026.
• Ontogenetic shifts in morphology and ecology of eastern Pacific white sharks revealed by computer vision.. 2026.
• Development and application of a VNAR-based detection nanobody for avian influenza virus H9N2.. 2026.
• Telemetry reveals potential mating aggregation behavior of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) in Hawai'i.. 2025.
• The Sharklogger Network-monitoring Cayman Islands shark populations through an innovative citizen science program.. 2025.
• Integration of multi-level dental diversity links macro-evolutionary patterns to ecological strategies across sharks.. 2025.
• First record case of free-living xanthism in the nurse shark Ginglymostoma cirratum (Bonnaterre, 1788) from Caribbean Sea. Marine Biodiversity, 2025.
• Age and growth estimates for the nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) over 17 years in Bimini, The Bahamas. Frontiers in Marine Science, 2024.
• Characteristics and Genomic Localization of Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) IgNAR. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024.
• Opportunistic camera surveys provide insight into discrete foraging behaviours in nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum). Environmental Biology of Fishes, 2023.
• Scuba diving tourism with critically endangered grey nurse sharks (Carcharias taurus) off eastern Australia: Tourist demographics, shark behaviour and diver compliance. Tourism Management, 2014.
• Evasive mating behaviour by female nurse sharks, Ginglymostoma cirratum (Bonnaterre, 1788), in an equatorial insular breeding ground. Neotropical Ichthyology, 2016.

This article is educational and does not replace institutional policy, professional advice, or applicable safety and regulatory requirements.