tiger shark

A large voracious shark (Galeocerdo cuvieri) of tropical waters, having a grayish-brown color with vertical bars along the sides.

Galeocerdo cuvier

FAMILY

Carcharhinidae

TAXONOMY

Squalus cuvier Peron and LeSuer, 1822, Australia.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

French: Requin tigre commun; Spanish: Tintorera.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Characteristically short and rounded snout. A large first dorsal fin (well anterior to the pelvic fin origin), well-developed caudal fin, and long upper labial furrows. Unique teeth, with posteriorly curved and serrated cusps. Coloration of dark vertical stripes (more apparent in juveniles) over a gray background. Large females reach 19.7 ft (6 m) in length, with unconfirmed records of up to 29.5 ft (9 m).

DISTRIBUTION

Worldwide in tropical to warm temperate, mostly continental waters but may occur pelagically in the western Pacific Ocean.

HABITAT

The tiger shark is mainly an inshore, warm-water species, occurring in continental waters as well as in remote oceanic islands from the intertidal zone down to about 459 ft (140 m). Very common in turbid waters, off river estuaries, near piers, and in coral reefs. May be found pelagically offshore but is not a truly oceanic shark like the blue shark.

BEHAVIOR

A mostly nocturnal, active, and strong-swimming species, capable of frequenting very shallow lagoons. Usually solitary. Appears sluggish because it cruises at slow speeds near the surface. Can approach and display aggressive behavior toward divers, but in many instances tiger sharks have been turned away by strong retaliation.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Feeds on a wide variety of vertebrates and invertebrates, and is considered among the least specialized of sharks in relation to diet, scavenging opportunistically as well as being a top marine predator. Tiger sharks also have been known to ingest inedible objects (license plates, plastics, cans, and an amazing variety of trash). Prey items vary from large fishes (many sharks and rays as well as larger bony fishes, such as tarpon), marine reptiles, mammals, and birds to mollusks (octopi, squid, and cuttlefish) and crustaceans. Actively attacks birds resting on the surface, lifting its massive head out of the water to bite down on them as they attempt to escape.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Aplacentally viviparous. (The only member of its family in which maternal-fetal connections do not form.) Gestation is slightly longer than one year. Gives birth to 10–82 rather large young (20.1–29.9 in [51–76 cm]). Inshore nursing grounds are common. Matures sexually between four and six years old.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Considered to be Lower Risk/Near Threatened by the IUCN, as there is some evidence that several populations have declined where they are heavily fished.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

Considered in many places to be a dangerous shark—many attacks on people and boats have been attributed to this species in tropical seas. Commonly hooked by fishermen and captured by longlines. The meat is utilized fresh, dried/salted, or frozen; the skin for leather; the fins for soup; and the oily liver processed for vitamin oil. Fished recreationally as well. Remains alive in aquaria for only short periods, not surpassing a few months. The tiger shark may be seen in the wild in Hawaii, Australia, and the Rangiroa Atoll (French Polynesia).

For more information on tiger shark, visit Britannica.com.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: large dangerous warm-water shark with striped or spotted body
  Synonym: Galeocerdo cuvieri