Visit our resident nurse shark, Thelma, and watch her swim around her habitat from above or underwater! You can also encounter epaulette sharks and short-tail nurse sharks in the Sea Cavern, and meet Marty the zebra shark at Stingray Beach.
Where to See
Resident Nurse Shark
Thelma
- Sex
- Female
- Length
- Nearly 7 feet
A private collector took Thelma out of the wild as a young pup and later learned that nurse sharks continue to grow regardless of their tank size. When she had outgrown her tank, the collector could no longer care for her and brought Thelma to Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
We have given Thelma a forever home here at CMA where she has plenty of room to move about. Thelma has learned to voluntarily participate in her own medical management program through target-pole training. You can get an underwater view of Thelma with other marine fish by Shipwreck Alley or watch her from above at Shark Pass.
Shark Species
Nurse Sharks
- Status
- Data Deficient
- Average Size
- 130 lbs
- Location
- Caribbean, American west coast
- Threats
- Line fishing, commercial fishing
- Defining Characteristic
- Slow-moving bottom dweller
- Reach lengths of up to 14 feet
Epaulette Sharks
- Status
- Data Deficient
- Lifespan
- 20-25 years
- Location
- Australia and New Guinea
- Threats
- Commercial fishing
- Have evolved to use pectoral fins to ‘walk’ and be out of water for up to 2 hours traveling between tidal pools
Short-Tail Sharks
- Status
- Critically Endangered
- Lifespan
- 30+ years
- Location
- Western Indian Ocean
- Threats
- Habitat loss, commercial fishing, mining
- When purchasing souvenirs and food, consider their impact on our delicate marine ecosystems. Choose items that are sustainably sourced and inquire about their origins before buying. By selecting environmentally responsible products, you help preserve the beauty of our oceans for future generations. Your thoughtful choices contribute significantly to the protection of species like the short-tail nurse shark.
Zebra Sharks
- Status
- Endangered
- Lifespan
- 20-25 years
- Location
- Indo-west Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to New Caledonia, north to southern Japan, south to coast of western Australia, around tropical north and south to central coast of New South Wales. Also Tonga.
- Threats
- Commercial fishing
- Although shark finning is illegal in the United States, zebra shark fins can still be purchased from unsustainable fisheries where this practice is not banned. Researching the source of seafood before you purchase it and making eco-conscious and sustainable choices can help protect zebra sharks from being overfished.
Did You Know…
