Description:
Nurse sharks are members of the carpet shark family (Orectolobidae) and are the only representatives of this family in North American waters.  These elongate sharks grow to approximately 14 feet in length and are characterized by having 2 nearly equally sized dorsal fins, and a pair of barbels below the nostrils on the short snout.  A deep groove connects the mouth and nostrils.  Body color ranges from shades of rusty-red through tan and yellowish.  The underside is typically paler than the dorsal surface.  Many large dermal denticles set close together on the skin lend an especially rough texture to the skin.  The caudal fin is low in profile and appears to have only an upper lobe, a feature distinct from other sharks. These sharks are not considered harmful unless provoked.

Habitat:
Nurse sharks may be found in a variety of shallow habitat types including sand flats near estuary mouths and embayments, nearshore soft bottom areas, and coral reefs. 

Similar Species:
The nurse shark is not easily confused with other sharks due to the obvious barbels on the snout, the presence of 2 dorsal fins of nearly equal size, and the low-profile caudal fin.

Range:
Nurse sharks range from Rhode Island south through Brazil, though they are fairly rare north of the Carolinas and in parts of the northern and western Gulf of Mexico.  They are known in the Pacific from the Gulf of California south through Ecuador.