TIGER SHARK
Galeocerdo cuvier
The Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is a large predatory fish found in tropical and temperate waters worldwide. Known for its distinctive striped pattern and voracious appetite, it preys on a wide variety of marine creatures, ranging from fish and crustaceans to seabirds and even turtles. Despite its solitary nature, the Tiger Shark plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems as a top predator.
OVERVIEW
IUCN Conservation Status: Near Threatened
Class Chondrichthyes
Genus Galeocerdo
Family Carcharhinidae
Order Carcharhiniformes
SIZE
Tiger Sharks display sexual dimorphism in size, with males typically ranging from 2.26 to 3.05 meters and females from 2.5 to 3.5 meters. However, exceptional cases, like a 7.4-meter male, have been documented, indicating variability influenced by regional factors.
DIET
Known as “the garbage cans of the sea”, Tiger Shark's diet encompasses a wide array of prey, including bony fishes, elasmobranchs such as tiger shark pups, sea turtles, sea snakes, marine iguanas, sea birds, marine mammals, jellyfish, carrion, and occasionally, rubbish.
BEHAVIOUR
Tiger sharks are highly adept swimmers, capable of covering vast and unpredictable distances in pursuit of food.
HABITAT
Tiger Sharks inhabit continental and insular shelves, ranging from surface waters to depths of up to 1136 meters. They occupy diverse habitats, from turbid areas with high freshwater runoff, such as estuaries and harbors, to clearer waters around coral atolls and lagoons.
BREEDING
Tiger Sharks give birth to live young with a yolk sac rather than a placenta, producing large litters ranging from 10 to 82 pups, typically averaging 26 to 33. They are born in spring to early summer following a gestation period of 15 to 16 months. Mating usually occurs in spring, sometimes even before pregnant females have given birth. These sharks exhibit rapid growth, reaching maturity at varying ages, typically between 4 to 13 years, depending on the region.
