Meet The Real-Life Bruce From Finding Nemo!

Jan 23, 2023by Olivia Harper - F&F

Meet Snooty the shark, who looks identical to Bruce from Finding Nemo! This friendly shark always has a grin on her face (just like the shark in our favourite animated movie). Read on to learn more about her!

Snooty Shark SmilingSnooty Shark Smiling

Image: Caters News Agency 

Snooty Has A Toothy Smile Just Like Bruce From Finding Nemo! 

A female shark off the coast of Florida has caught the attention of divers across the United States thanks to her big toothy smile that looks exactly like Bruce the shark from the hit film Finding Nemo!

This happy, harmless predator is called ‘Snooty’, and she’s of the Lemon shark species. Photographer Cassie Jensen had been wanting to see Snooty for years and was amazed to see she actually does look like the Finding Nemo character.

Cassie said; “I have been diving with many sharks before, but this was the first time I had ever met Snooty. I've been wanting to meet her for a long time, so when I saw her cruise by me, my heart began to race.”

Snooty Shark Close UpSnooty Shark Close Up

Image: Caters News Agency 

What Are Lemon Sharks? 

Snooty is a well known shark in Florida waters for the way her jaw is set, causing her to constantly look like she is smiling — how sweet! Cassie says that Snooty also has a crimped tail but it doesn't seem to bother her, and they love her even more for it! She's always smiling and happy to be around the divers.

Lemon sharks can be found in shallow coastal waters, in mangrove forests and coral reefs in parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Many⁠ Lemon sharks, like Snooty⁠, inhabit the areas around the Gulf of Mexico, feeding on fish, crustaceans, seabirds and other sharks. Lemon sharks are named for their yellow-brown skin that helps them camouflage in the sandy, tropical waters they inhabit.

Snooty Shark TeethSnooty Shark Teeth

Image: Galice Hoarau

Snooty Is So Friendly, She’s Become A Local Celebrity! 

In 2019, a close-up photograph of the local celebrity in Jupiter, Florida, had been given an honorable mention in an underwater photo competition. The photo — which appears to show the female lemon shark smiling — was picked out from thousands of entries to the 2019 Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition!

Galice Hoarau, a photographer who snapped Snooty near Bonaire Wreck in Jupiter, said she is a particularly amenable shark. "She’s always one of the first sharks to come and greet you when diving Bonaire and she stays close by until the end of the dive. On this particular dive, I was focused on trying to capture her smile, enjoying her willingness to play along."

We are also amazed to see that Snooty truly does resemble the computer-generated character from Finding Nemo!


To see regular updates and magnificent photographs of Snooty the Lemon Shark roaming the seas, follow @snooty_the_lemon_shark on Instagram to learn more but this incredible creature!

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