Tawny Nurse Shark
Nebrius ferrugineus
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Elasmobranchii
- Order
- Orectolobiformes
- Family
- Ginglymostomatidae
- Genus
- Nebrius
- Species
- Nebrius ferrugineus
The tawny nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus) is a sluggish, yellowish-brown shark that rests in caves and under ledges by day. It has small eyes, barbels on its snout and sickle-shaped fins.
It grows to about 3 m and hunts at night, sucking octopus, crustaceans and small fish out of crevices. It is generally docile but should not be disturbed.
In the Philippines it is occasionally found resting in caves and under overhangs on reef slopes.
Photo: Ben Costamagna, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist