Nebrius ferrugineus (Lesson, 1831)

Tawny nurse shark

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Elasmobranchii \| Orectolobiformes \| Ginglymostomatidae
Synonyms	Scyllium ferrugineum, Ginglymostoma ferruginea, Ginglymostoma ferrugineum, ... more
Common names	Requin nourrice fauve, Gata nodriza atezada, Nurse shark, ... more

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Image of Nebrius ferrugineus (Tawny nurse shark)

Picture by Banks, I.

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AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Compagno, L.J.V. 1984. (Ref. 247)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : Compagno, Leonard J.V. | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 320 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 247); common length : 250 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. )

Environment

Reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 70 m (Ref. 1602), usually 5 - 30 m (Ref. 43278)

Climate / Range

Tropical; 41°N - 27°S, 32°E - 169°W

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Tuamoto Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. A large, bulky nurse shark with a small mouth and small comb-like teeth, and with angular fins (Ref. 5578). Caudal fin shorter, much less than half the length of body; no ridges on side of the body; pectoral fins falcate (Ref. 6871). Brown dorsally, paler ventrally (Ref. 391); fins slightly dusky (Ref. 9999). Spiracles much smaller than eye (Ref. 9999).

Found on continental and insular shelves, from the intertidal down to at least 70 m (Ref. 247). Occurs on or near the bottom in lagoons or along the outer edges of coral and rocky reefs, sandy areas near reefs and off sandy beaches (Ref. 247, 43278). Primarily nocturnal, but may be active during the day (Ref. 247). Prefers crevices and caves on reefs but may be found hiding in more exposed areas (Ref. 247). Forms resting aggregations, and often seen piled across or on top of one another (Ref. 247). Feeds on a wide variety of bottom invertebrates, small fishes (Ref. 247), including cephalopods, crustaceans and sea urchins (Ref. 37816). Docile and known to allow itself to be touched, but a few non-fatal attacks have been recorded (Ref. 247). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 43278). 4 or more young are born per litter (Ref. 37816). Survives in captivity (Ref. 247). Marketed fresh and dried-salted; fins dried for the oriental sharkfin trade; liver processed for vitamins and oil; offal processed for fishmeal; hide potentially valuable for leather (Ref. 247).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Vulnerable (VU) (A2abcd+3cd+4abcd)	Traumatogenic (Ref. 247)

Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

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Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=4)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
High vulnerability (61 of 100)	Not marketed/unknown

Entered by Carpenter, Kent E.

Modified by Ortañez, Auda Kareen

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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