 The mode of reproduction is aplacental viviparity, meaning that the embryos hatch inside the uterus; females in captivity have been documented depositing up to 52 non-viable egg capsules, which has led to erroneous reports of this shark being oviparous.The egg capsules of this species are onion-shaped, with thin, brown, translucent shells.The tawny nurse shark is the only carpet shark in which there is oophagy