Tiger Sharks

The tiger shark is a species of requiem shark and the only extant member of the genus Galeocerdo. It is a large macropredator, capable of attaining a length over 5 m. Populations are found in many tropical and temperate waters, especially around central Pacific islands. Its name derives from the dark stripes down its body, which resemble a tiger's pattern, but fade as the shark matures. The tiger shark is a solitary, mostly nocturnal hunter. It is notable for having the widest food spectrum of all sharks, with a range of prey that includes crustaceans, fish, seals, birds, squid, turtles, sea snakes, dolphins, and even other smaller sharks. It also has a reputation as a "garbage eater", consuming a variety of inedible, man-made objects that linger in its stomach. Though apex predators, tiger sharks are sometimes taken as prey by groups of killer whales. It is considered a near threatened species due to finning and fishing by humans.

Read more in the app

Miocene-Period Dugong Was Eaten by Crocodile and Tiger Sharks, Paleontologists Say

Tiger sharks helped discover the world’s largest seagrass prairie

Tiger Sharks Help Scientists Uncover World’s Largest Seagrass Ecosystem

Largest Aggregation Of Adult Tiger Sharks In The World Found

Sea Turtles Escape Tiger Sharks By... Not Moving

The Fight Between Tiger Sharks and Dugongs Is Older Than We Think

Tiger Sharks, Tracked over Decades, Are Shifting Their Haunts with Ocean Warming