Common over inshore coral reefs in tropical waters, the nurse shark is sluggish during the day, and active at night, when it feeds on bottom-dwelling invertibrates and other fish. It is aggresive to humans only when provoked. Because they are abundant, easy to capture and adapt well to captivity, these sharks are often seen in public aquariums and oceanariums.

This shark has a broad head and a fairly stout body. Nasal grooves run between the nostrils and the corners of the small mouth, and noticable barbels protrude from the nasal openings. The color is yellowish brown or tan to dark brown.

Reproduction: A female gives birth to between 20 and 28 pups per litter.

These are probably the most common shark seen by snorkelers and divers in the Carribean. They are seen quietly resting on the seafloor.

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