Grey Nurse Shark

Scientific name

Carcharias taurus

Status in NSW

Critically endangered.

Characteristics

The Grey Nurse Shark, also known as the sand tiger shark or spotted ragged-tooth shark, has a large, stout body tapered at each end, a pointed snout and small eyes. The upper surface of Greynurse Sharks is bronze coloured, and the underside is pale white. Juveniles often have dark spots on the lower half of the body and the caudal (tail) fin. These spots fade as the shark becomes larger, but sometimes persist on adults. They have two distinctive large dorsal (top) fins of similar size. The first dorsal fin is set well back from the pectoral (side) fins. The anal fin is similar in size to both dorsal fins. The mouth extends beyond the front of the eye, and has long, protruding teeth.