Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
- Diet
- An opportunistic predator whose prey ranges from fish, mollusks and crustaceans to sea turtles, seabirds, marine mammals, other sharks and rays; it also scavenges and sometimes swallows inedible objects.
- Size
- 3.5–4.7 m; 300–900 kg
- Range
- Found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, including coastal waters, reefs, channels and open waters around many ocean regions.
- Habitat
- Often coastal, staying near reefs and using channels and shallower waters while pursuing prey; it also occurs in deeper water and has been recorded near 900 m.
- Lifespan
- Lifespan is unknown, but tiger sharks can live longer than 12 years.
- Activity
- Solitary and mostly nocturnal; it often hunts close to shore at night and moves into deeper water during the day.
- Reproduction
- Females mate once every three years. Eggs hatch inside the mother, and live young are born after development of up to 16 months; litters contain 10–80 pups.
- Conservation
- Near Threatened according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature assessment cited in the source; the source identifies finning and fishing as threats.
- Camouflage
- The dark stripes that give the tiger shark its name are most obvious in young sharks and fade as the animal matures. Its blue-to-green back and pale underside create countershading, making it harder to see against darker water from above and bright surface light from below.
- Sensing the world
- Small pits on the snout contain electroreceptors—sensors that detect weak electrical fields, including signals produced by prey. Together with a lateral line that senses tiny water vibrations, these senses help the shark locate animals in darkness or murky water.
- Finding food
- Tiger shark teeth have pronounced serrations and a sideways-pointing tip. This broad, cutting shape is suited to slicing through tough food, including turtle shells, and replacement teeth continually move in as older teeth are lost.
- Getting around
- Although it usually swims slowly with small body movements, a tiger shark can make a sudden burst of speed when it closes on prey. Its long upper tail helps provide that acceleration.
- Life cycles
- Tiger sharks are the only species in their family described in the source as ovoviviparous: the eggs hatch inside the mother, and the young are born live. Developing embryos are nourished in fluid-filled sacs rather than through a placental connection.
Facts
- The dark stripes that give the tiger shark its name are most obvious in young sharks and fade as the animal matures. Its blue-to-green back and pale underside create countershading, making it harder to see against darker water from above and bright surface light from below.
- Small pits on the snout contain electroreceptors—sensors that detect weak electrical fields, including signals produced by prey. Together with a lateral line that senses tiny water vibrations, these senses help the shark locate animals in darkness or murky water.
- Tiger shark teeth have pronounced serrations and a sideways-pointing tip. This broad, cutting shape is suited to slicing through tough food, including turtle shells, and replacement teeth continually move in as older teeth are lost.
- Although it usually swims slowly with small body movements, a tiger shark can make a sudden burst of speed when it closes on prey. Its long upper tail helps provide that acceleration.
- Tiger sharks are the only species in their family described in the source as ovoviviparous: the eggs hatch inside the mother, and the young are born live. Developing embryos are nourished in fluid-filled sacs rather than through a placental connection.
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