About The Species

The short-tail nurse shark (Pseudoginglymostoma brevicaudatum) is a nurse shark in the family Ginglymostomatidae, the only member of the genus Pseudoginglymostoma. It is found in the tropical western Indian Ocean between latitudes 0° and 27° S, and reaches a length of 75 cm. The short-tail nurse shark has been documented in the west Indian Ocean off of Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar and in Mozambique. There has also been unconfirmed sightings in the Seychelles and Mauritius.

Due to the lack of information on P. brevicaudatum natural diet, Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) conducted a trial period recording in a scale of 0-5 the preference of which foods the sharks gravitated towards. Creating a similar diet given to nurse sharks consisting of shrimp, clam, krill and small fish. Through the trial period it was discovered that P. brevicaudatum had a high preference for krill with a rating of 4, while interest varied between shrimp and clam throughout the trial period. P. brevicaudatum was found to enjoy muscles. Instead of eating them they played with them, they would carry them in their mouths, crack the shells and hide them under rocks, but none of the meat was eaten. Jawarski, C.P (2024)