Pseudoginglymostoma brevicaudatum (Günther, 1867)
Short-tail nurse shark
Pseudoginglymostoma brevicaudatum
photo by FAO

Family:  Ginglymostomatidae (Nurse sharks)
Max. size:  75 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: East Africa, and possibly Mauritius and Seychelles.
Diagnosis:  Dark brown dorsally, slightly paler ventrally (Ref. 391).
Biology:  A little-known inshore bottom shark of the continental and insular shelves. Well adapted to lie amongst coral reefs due to its tough skin (Ref. 391); depth data not available (Ref. 43278). Breeding and feeding habits are unknown. Presumably oviparous (Ref. 50449). Survives for many hours out of water (Ref. 391).
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 24 April 2018 (A2cd) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Also Ref. 43278.


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