Introduction to the Tiger Shark
The lone shark in the genus Galeocerdo is the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), a kind of requiem shark. Among the largest known species of sharks is this one. It weighs more than 900 kg (2000 pounds) and can reach lengths of up to 5.5 meters (18 feet). Tiger sharks may reach depths of up to 350 meters (1150 feet) and are found in coastal temperate and tropical waters around the world, except the Mediterranean Sea. The primary prey for tiger sharks includes bony fish, rays, squid, crabs, seals, and dolphins. The tiger shark is the only ovoviviparous species in its family, producing pups that can number from 10 to 82 at a time.
Physical Characteristics of the Tiger Shark
The black spots and stripes that run the length of the body, resembling tigers, give rise to the moniker “tiger shark.” The body is very thick in the front but gets thinner toward the back. Its head is massive and powerful, with enormous eyes and a blunt nose. The first dorsal fin, which is situated behind the pectoral fins, is fairly broad. The anal fin, which is heavily recurved, is placed in front of the relatively smaller second dorsal fin. Between the dorsal fins on the back is a ridge.
The massive, pointed teeth in the tiger shark’s jaws enable it to slice through the flesh and bones of its meal. The margins of each tooth are uneven. The front teeth are bigger than the back teeth, and the upper and lower teeth have a comparable shape.
The tiger shark’s belly is yellowish-white to pure white, while its dorsal surface ranges from bluish-green to dark gray to black. When a shark is younger, its black spots and stripes are more easily seen; as it gets older, these features become less visible. One of the largest sharks known to science is the tiger shark, which can grow to a length of 3.25–4.25 meters (11–14 feet) and a weight of 385–635 kilograms (850–1400 pounds).
Tiger sharks vary in length from 51 to 76 cm (2 to 2.5 feet) at birth. Mature males reach 2.3–3 meters (8–10 feet), mature females 2.5–3.3 meters (8–11 feet). The largest specimens are believed to reach lengths of up to 5.5 meters (18 feet) and weigh over 900 kg (2000 pounds).
Habitat and Distribution of the Tiger Shark
Except for the Mediterranean Sea, tiger sharks can be found throughout the world’s coastline temperate and tropical waters. It can be found in the Caribbean Sea, Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico, and western Atlantic from Massachusetts to Uruguay. It can be found in Morocco, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Senegal, and potentially the United Kingdom (because of the mild Gulf Stream) in the eastern Atlantic.
It can be found in the Indian Ocean between the Red Sea and South Africa, as well as in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is found in the southern regions of China, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Palau, the Solomon Islands, the Marshall Islands, and Tahiti in the western Pacific. It can be found in Hawaii, the Galapagos Islands, southern California, and Peru in the eastern Pacific.
Although the tiger shark can be found in a wide variety of marine environments, it typically favors murky coastal waters. It is frequently seen in harbors and estuaries as well. The tiger shark’s native habitat also includes lagoons and the shallow regions surrounding big island chains. Tiger sharks can be found up to 350 meters (1150 ft) below the surface.
The tiger shark hunts at night. They hunt at night and are largely inactive all through the day. They live alone and have the potential to attack any human or shark that approaches them. One of the most deadly sharks for humans, along with the great white and the bull shark, is the tiger shark, which may be very hostile.
Feeding Habits and Diet of the Tiger Shark
Tiger sharks consume a diverse range of food. Sea birds, sea turtles, sea snakes, crabs, seals, squid, rays, bony fish, dolphins, and small sharks of various species are among their food sources. Car license plates and ship debris have been discovered inside the bellies of certain tiger sharks. It has also been seen that adult tiger sharks feed on juvenile tiger sharks.
In its stomach was a 20 cm long fish, two empty cans, a plastic bottle, two burlap sacks, and one giant female that was caught in the Red Sea off the north end of the Gulf of Aqaba. In addition, a lot of tiger sharks who were captured in harbors were discovered to have trash in their bellies.
In addition to having improved vision, tiger sharks can detect vibrations produced by their prey in the water and utilize this information to locate food in the dark.
Reproduction and Lifespan of the Tiger Shark
Mature size, not age, determines tiger shark maturity. Mature males reach 2.3–3 meters (8–10 feet), mature females 2.5–3.3 meters (8–11 feet).t[2] Because they are ovoviviparous, female tiger sharks only mate once every three years. The location determines when the mating season begins. The mating season spans from November to January in the southern hemisphere and from March to May in the northern hemisphere. A female can give birth to 10-82 pups at a time throughout the up to 16-month gestation period. Tiger sharks typically live for 12 years in the wild.