Where Does Nurse Shark Live?
Ginglymostoma cirratum
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Open the appNurse Shark lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.
Where to find Nurse Shark
- Water type
- saltwater
- Depth
- Typically found in shallow, warm waters from the intertidal zone down to about 70 meters (230 feet), though occasionally observed deeper (up to 130 meters or 426 feet).
- Environment
- Prefers coastal habitats such as coral reefs, rocky areas, mangrove channels, seagrass beds, and sandy flats. Often found resting in caves, under ledges, or in crevices during the day.
- Geographic range
- Western Atlantic Ocean from Rhode Island, USA, to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Eastern Atlantic Ocean from Cape Verde to Gabon. Also found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean from Baja California to Peru.
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