Nurse sharks (Ginglymostomatidae)

General data

Main name: Nurse sharks

Classification

Order: Orectolobiformes - Carpet shark
Class: Elasmobranchii - Sharks and Rays
Superclass: Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes

Description

Members of this genus eat small fish and crustaceans, and are commonly quite lethargic unless provoked. They have the ability to suck in water in order to remove snails from their shells in a manner that can be described as vacuum-like. There are currently two recognized living species in this genus.

Genera

Ginglymostoma

Nebrius

Pseudoginglymostoma

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
- Elasmobranchii - Sharks and Rays->
  - Lamniformes - Mackerel sharks->
  - Carcharhiniformes - Ground sharks->
  - Rhinopristiformes - Shovelnose rays->
  - Torpediniformes - Electric rays->
  - Rajiformes - Skates and rays->
  - Orectolobiformes - Carpet shark->
    
    Rhincodontidae - Whale sharks->
    
    Ginglymostomatidae - Nurse sharks->
    
    Orectolobidae - Wobbegongs->
    
    Stegostomatidae - Zebra sharks->
    
    Brachaeluridae - Brachaeluridae->
    
    Hemiscylliidae - Bamboo sharks->
    
    Parascylliidae - Collared carpet sharks->
  - Squatiniformes - Angelsharks->
  - Heterodontiformes - Bullhead and horn sharks->
  - Hexanchiformes - Six-gill sharks->
  - Myliobatiformes - Stingrays->
  - Squaliformes - Sleeper and dogfish sharks->
  - Echinorhiniformes - Bramble sharks->
  - Pristiophoriformes - Saw sharks->
- Holocephali - Chimaeras->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->