Represents a significant component of marine ecosystems as apex predators, remarkable for their adaptability and broad diet. Adept in varying marine environments, they are found in many temperate and tropical waters worldwide, especially in the central Pacific islands. Their nomadic and solitary nature makes them one of the ocean’s most effective opportunistic feeders.
Tiger sharks are the only extant species of the genus Galeocerdo, a lineage that dates back at least to the early Miocene epoch. Their name is derived from the pronounced vertical stripes found on juveniles, which fade as the shark matures. These stripes are highly reminiscent of a tiger’s pattern, hence the name.
Growing to an average of 3.25 to 4.25 meters (10 to 14 feet) and weighing around 385 to 635 kilograms (850 to 1,400 pounds), tiger sharks are built robustly. Exceptional specimens can exceed 5 meters (16 feet) and weigh over 900 kilograms (2,000 pounds). Their size makes them one of the largest shark species, second only to the great white shark, the basking shark, and the whale shark.
Their diet is impressively diverse, including fish, seals, birds, squid, crustaceans, dolphins, and even other smaller sharks. Their powerful jaws house large, serrated teeth that can slice through flesh, bone, and other tough substances, making them one of the few shark species that can safely eat sea turtles due to their ability to crack their shells. The tiger shark’s status as a scavenger often leads them to ingest inedible, man-made objects that litter the oceans.
Tiger sharks are known for their keen senses, which aid in their hunt for food. They have exceptional sight and smell, coupled with electroreceptors called ampullae of Lorenzini, allowing them to detect the electrical fields generated by potential prey. Their behavior is often described as curious and persistent, which makes them formidable hunters.
Their curious nature and tendency to investigate with their mouths can lead to negative interactions with humans. Thus, caution is advised in waters inhabited by tiger sharks. While they are not the most aggressive species towards humans, their size and power make them potentially dangerous.
Distribution
Atlantic ocean
Indian ocean
Pacific ocean
Black Sea
Mediterranean Sea
Red Sea
American Samoa
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Aruba
Australia
Bahrain
Barbados
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Brazil
British Virgin Is.
Cameroon
Cayman Islands
China
Colombia
Congo-Brazzaville
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Cuba
Côte D’ivoire
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Fiji
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Jamaica
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Liberia
Libya
Maldives
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mexico
Micronesia
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Nauru
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
Nort. Mariana Is.
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Pitcairn
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent
Samoa
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
St. Kitts & Nevis
Sudan
Suriname
Taiwan
Tanzania
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad & Tobago
Tuvalu
UAE
US Minor Is.
US Virgin Islands
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Wallis & Futuna
YemenAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
