English Name: Tawny Nurse Shark
Local Name: Nidhan Miyaru
Size: Max. just over 3 m
Family: GINGLYMOSTOMATIDAE
Order: Orectolobiformes
Distinctive Characters: Body without ridges. Caudal fin about 30 per cent of total length. Pectoral, dorsal and anal fins with angular apices. Teeth compressed, with moderate central cusp and 4 – 6 smaller cusps on sides.
Colour: Brown, from tan to dark grey-brown, Paler below.
Habitat and Biology: Occurs in shallow waters from the inter-tidal zone to a depth of at least 70 m. Demersal on coral and rocky reefs, in lagoons and on sand flats. Feeds on a variety of bottom invertebrates, corals, and small fishes. Mainly nocturnal, often resting in caves or under overhangs by day. Ovoviviparous; number of young at least 4 per uterus.
Distribution: Indo-Pacific
Remarks: Four individuals of Nebrius ferrugineus (of length 134-226 cm in total length) were taken by hand line and longline by R.V. “Farumas” during the reef fish resources survey (Anderson and Ahmed, 1993, p.55). This is a tough and hardy shark that readily survives in captivity. N. concolor Ruppell, 1837 is a synonym.