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Short-tail nurse shark
No image of Short-tail nurse shark found in the Shark Database
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| Range Map |
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| Systematics |
Phylum: Vertebates (Chordata)
Class: Carlilagenous Fishes (Chondrichthyes)
Order: Carpetsharks (Orectolobiformes)
Family: Nurse sharks (Ginglymostomatidae)
Genus: Ginglymostoma (Ginglymostoma)
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| Name |
| Scientific: | Ginglymostoma brevicaudatum |
| German: | Kurzschwanzammenhai |
| English: | Short-tail nurse shark |
| French: | Requin-nourrice a queue courte |
| Spanish: | Gata nodriza |
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| Appearance |
Typical nurse shark appearance, but very small. Broad and flattened head. Small spiracles behind the eyes. Very short barbels. Mouth well in front of the eyes. Cylindrical body, with two dorsal fins of nearly the same size. Anal fin of same size as dorsal fins. Origin of first dorsal fin over bases of pelvic fins. Origin of second dorsal fin over anal fin"s origin. Moderately large pectoral fins, broad.
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| Coloration |
Entire body is dark brown. No conspicuous markings.
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| Distribution |
Western Indian Ocean: Tanzania, Kenya.
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| Biology |
A little known species of inshore waters. Lives preferably at the bottom of the continental and insular shelves. Seems to be common.
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| Feeding |
Feeds most likely on molluscs.
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| Size |
Compared to other "nurse sharks", it is very small, maximum size about 75 cm, average between 50 and 70 cm.
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| Reproduction |
Unknown, most likely aplacental viviparous (ovoviviparous).
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| Similar Species |
Similar to Tawny nurse shark , which however is of much larger size, its pectoral fins are falcate, and dorsal fins pointed.
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| Endangerment |
Status in the IUCN
Red List:
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No Entry found in Red List.
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| Danger to Humans |
Harmless.
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