The Grey Nurse Shark has 'nurse' in its name because it rounds up fishes into a tight school.
Common name: Grey Nurse Shark
Scientific name: Carcharias taurus
Photo: E. Schloegl
Some sharks have a bad name. Find out about protection for endangered sharks such as this one.
Sharks
Grey Nurse Shark
Grey Nurse Sharks live near the sea floor and sometimes in the surf zone. They can be found down to depths of 190 m.
This is the tooth of a Grey Nurse Shark. It is long and piercing with small cusps at the bottom.
Grey Nurse Sharks eat bony fishes, crabs, lobsters, squids and octopuses. They catch their food by rounding up small fishes into tight groups and eating them.
Grey Nurse Sharks' teeth are long and piercing with small cusps. Their teeth constantly fall out and get replaced.
Grey Nurse Sharks can grow up to 3.2 m long.
Grey Nurse Sharks give birth to only two live young at a time.
Grey Nurse Sharks are not dangerous, but divers should not annoy them.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2003
