Details
Galeocerdo cuvier
The tiger shark is a large ocean shark found across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Active across day and night, it roams alone or loosely near others.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It uses tropical and warm-temperate open waters, island margins, offshore coasts, and deeper seas. It also enters shallower coastal areas while ranging widely.
Length is about 300-550 cm and weight about 300-900 kg. A heavy body, broad head, and tiger-like bars most visible in young fish give it its name.
It patrols broad areas alone, with loose overlap where food is abundant. Tiger sharks are investigative predators and may inspect many kinds of objects.
It is carnivorous, eating fish, sharks, rays, seabirds, sea turtles, carrion, and many other animals. Strong teeth handle tough shells and bones.
It is live-bearing, producing young that develop inside the mother. Juveniles grow in relatively shallow coastal habitats.
Its status is listed as Near Threatened. Bycatch and directed fishing affect it, and its wide movements call for management across regions.
