Images(3)

Nurse shark

Photographer Valerie Taylor (born 1935)

DateDecember 1991

Object numberANMS1458[451]

NamePhotographic slide

MediumColour transparency film, paper

DimensionsOverall (Inc carrier): 50 × 50 mm

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Valerie Taylor in memory of Ron Taylor

Terms

DescriptionThe family Ginglymostomatidae contains 4 extant species of carpet sharks commonly known as nurse sharks. The Common Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) is the largest species, found along the Atlantic and East Pacific coastlines, while the more docile Tawny Nurse Shark (Nebrius ferrugineus) lives in the Indo Pacific, including northern Australian waters. These sharks are often found resting motionless on the seabed in large clusters during the day.