The tawny nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus) is a species of carpet shark in the family Ginglymostomatidae, and the only extant member of the genus Nebrius. As with all sharks, this giant fish is incredibly interesting and very important to the delicate marine ecosystem, especially near fragile coral reefs. Male nurse sharks reach sexual maturity between 10 and 15 years of age, while females become mature between 15 and 20 years of age. These large creatures reach weights as high as 150 kilograms (330 pounds). … If the nurse shark were a person, it might have a chip on its shoulder about its name, which isn't nearly as ferocious-sounding as "bull" or "tiger." They move very slowly along the bottom of the water to get their food. They are robust and able to tolerate capture, handling, and tagging extremely well. Nurse Sharks are very populous compared to other tropical sharks. But while the nurse shark certainly doesn't tend to human beings like an RN, its name is somewhat appropriate insomuch that the shark is generally non-aggressive and typically swims away from people. A nurse shark bit a 23-year-old woman in Boca Raton, Florida, on Sunday and didn't let go. Their tail fins are very distinctive and account for about ¼ of their body. They can get quite large with a length of up to 4.5 meters (15ft) as adults. Full grown Nurse Sharks can weigh as much as 330 pounds and grow up to 14 feet in length. The nurse shark is one of the most commonly observed sharks on coral and rocky reefs of the eastern Pacific Ocean and the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean. Nurse Shark Feeding. However, their location and their food sources can influence their size. Nurse sharks are an important species for shark research (predominantly in physiology). Generally slow and sluggish, nurse sharks spend much of their time resting on the ocean's bottom. As inoffensive as nurse sharks may appear, they are ranked fourth in documented shark bites on humans, likely due to incautious behavior by divers on account of the nurse shark's slow, sedentary nature. Characteristics Nurse sharks are slow-moving bottom-dwellers and are, for the most part, harmless to humans. They find it in the sediment at the bottom of the sea. At night, the groups of Nurse Sharks become solitary and they go find food. They are robust and able to tolerate capture, handling, and tagging extremely well. Nurse sharks typically are born during the winter. Three female nurse sharks refuged next to the beach. They are about 1 foot in length at birth and grow 4 to 6 inches a year in length, less as they get larger. About the Sand Tiger Shark Sand tiger sharks, also known as gray nurse sharks, have a deceivingly ferocious look. Three female nurse sharks refuged next to the beach. Both jaws are laden with sharp, long and pointed teeth. Common in tropical and subtropical coastal waters on both sides of North America, nurse sharks often inhabit reefs and rest during the day on sandy bottoms or in caves and crevices. They are about 1 foot in length at birth and grow 4 to 6 inches a year in length, less as they get larger. Since they have extremely low metabolisms, tending to eat 18% of other what comparable sharks eat, there can be more of them located in a smaller area without draining the food resources. Males, however, weigh a bit more than female nurse sharks, with males tipping the scales at 200 to 267 pounds (90 to 120 kilograms) and females weighing in anywhere from 167 to 233 pounds (75 to 105 kilograms) [source: Guarracino]. Range. Sand tiger sharks, also known as gray nurse sharks, have a deceivingly ferocious look. For instance, the Nurse shark is popular, but it usually grows to be too big for most home aquariums (up to 14 feet!). Females produce a litter of about 20 to 25 pups every other year. Also, even though their mating cycle only happens once a year and their gestation period takes 18 months, they give birth to large litters of 21-29 pups. Nurse sharks typically are born during the winter. Apart from having pretty much the coolest name ever, this is a good shark for a home aquarium … but only if you get certain species. The time to reach adulthood and mating can be as long as 15 to 20 years, at which time they are 7 to 7.5 feet in total length. They are about 1 foot in length at birth and grow 4 to 6 inches a year in length, less as they get larger. The grey nurse shark, Carcharias taurus, also called the sand tiger shark or ragged-tooth shark, is an elasmobranch and belongs to the carpet shark family.It can easily be recognized by its characteristic conical snout and under hung jaw. They consume a variety of food items including sea snakes, fish, stingrays, mollusks, tunicates, and crustaceans. Nurse sharks typically are born during the winter.