Last Update : Thursday 9 August, 2001 10:18 PM

          

Shark
Giant Shark Nurse Shark Leopard Shark Silvertip Shark Whaleshark

          NURSE SHARK…HUNTER OF THE NIGHT

          Now we will learn about lovely sharks that can still be met in Thailand. Our first star is nurse sharks or sleepy sharks. They are in Ginglymosto-matidae Family. There are 3 or 4 types in this Family. But in Thailand there are Nebrius ferrugineus  and Nebrius concolor  only. Both are so much alike that scientists are still arguing what to do. I looked up in 3 or 4 reference books and was still confused. So, I decided to write about both, thinking that I would inform you again when they come to some kind of conclusion.

          The nurse shark can be recognized easily. His head is flat. Both dorsal fin are closed together. He sleeps in the daytime. If you look carefully in the cave or under the coral you might find him. This type of shark lives in shallow water, not more than 70 meters deep. In his good mood, he can swim so close to the shore that his dorsal fin emerged from water surface. This occurs very often except in Thailand where most nurse sharks have already been caught for their fins.

          This type of shark is taupe color. Some of them are in dark color. People used to think there are two types of them because of difference in complexion. Until one scientist discovered that the dark tan skin came from sun bathe. Although no one knows why nurse sharks come to take sun bathe. I think he might make himself more attractive to chat up a lady shark.

          Nurse shark is viviparous. The newly born is about 40 centimeters long. In the young age, there are coin size spots all over the body. These spots disappear when fully grown. Adult can be as long as 3.2 meters. Very few are borne from one mother. Normally a mother would deliver 2 or 3 up to 8 babies.

          When nighttime arrives, the sleepy shark would turn into a briskly shark, swimming about the seafloor. There are nostrils at the tip of their mouth, used to feel when looking for food. When they find one they would swim near, open their mouth and suck the prey into their mouth. This is particular to them. No matter fish, crab or shrimp hiding under the coral have to yield to this technique. Their favorite food is octopus, cuttlefish crab lobster or sleeping fish. If they are hungry they can eat anything including sea urchin.

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