Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium has started a field study of tawny nurse sharks to gain a deeper understanding of their ecology and physiology in the wild.
In Japan, tawny nurse sharks are mainly seen near the Yaeyama Islands, but knowledge of their behavioral ecology is limited. In this study, we attach a clinical thermometer, electrocardiogram, and a behavior logger to tawny nurse sharks. Using a timer, the gear automatically releases from the shark. The gear is collected by researchers who can then record and analyze the shark’s behavior and physical state in the wild.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium not only studies tawny nurse sharks in captivity (*), but now also conducts research in the wild. By studying behavior, physiology, and the genetics of Yaeyama populations, we aim to increase our knowledge of tawny nurse shark ecology and conservation.

* Publication
Tomita T, Murakumo K, Ueda K, Ashida H, Furuyama R. 2019. Locomotion is not a privilege after birth: Ultrasound images of viviparous shark embryos swimming from one uterus to the other. Ethology. 125: 122-126.