Tawny nurse shark
Nebrius ferrugineus
Valid name. Nebrius concolor is a synonym.
- English
- Tawny nurse shark
- Scientific
- Nebrius ferrugineus
- Dhivehi
- ނިދަން މިޔަރުNidhan miyaru
- Group
- Sharks
- Maximum size
- Up to just over 3 m
- Depth and habitat
- Reef caves, ledges and lagoons, 0 to about 70 m
- IUCN status
- VU · VulnerableVulnerable (VU), assessed 2020
Description
A heavy-bodied, tan to brown shark with a broad head, small eyes, a pair of barbels at the nostrils and pointed, sickle-shaped fins. It spends the day resting in caves, often in groups, and hunts at night. It sucks prey such as octopus, crustaceans and small fish out of crevices with powerful suction. It is generally docile but can bite if harassed.
In the Maldives
Common in the Maldives, resting in caves by day. Large numbers gather at night around some resort jetties and at the Alimatha (Vaavu Atoll) night dive. Protected under the 2010 shark fishing ban.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Nebrius-ferrugineus.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=5895&GenusName=Nebrius&SpeciesName=fe
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ނިދަން_މިޔަރު
- cites.org /sites/default/files/eng/prog/shark/images/Maldives.pdf
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Nebrius_ferrugineus.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives, Marine Research Section, Malé (FAO/BOBP MAG/21); Thaana from Dhivehi Wikipedia (fish articles derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition). Also in FishBase common names (country: Maldives). The name means 'sleeping shark'.