Tiger Shark
· Tiger Shark Habitat
· Tiger Shark Food
· Tiger Shark Behaviour
· Conservation Status
· Tiger Shark Facts

Tiger Shark Facts

Tiger shark fact - description

An adult Tiger shark can be up to 6 metres (20 feet) in length, but it is more common for this species to stay around 3 metres (10 feet) in length. The body is sturdy with a bluntly shaped snout. The caudal fin is elongated and pointy. The first dorsal fin is larger than the second one and between the two fins you can see a dermal ridge that runs along the back of the shark.

It is a well known Tiger shark fact that this species derives its name from its striped pattern. Adult Tiger sharks display the stripped pattern for which they are famous, while younger Tiger sharks are decorated with spots and dots. These spots and dots will gradually merge and form stripes as the animal grows older. The stripes are displayed on the back of the shark, which is dark grey or brownish. The belly is of an off-white shade.

The Tiger sharks have developed a specialized form of gill slit known as a spiracle. The spiracles are situated right behind the eyes of the Tiger shark and this arrangement ensures a constant flow of oxygen directly to the brain and the eyes of the shark.

Tiger shark facts – migration

The Tiger shark facts regarding migration vary between the individuals. Tiger sharks are known to sometimes engage in long journeys, but it is not all Tiger sharks that migrate. Some Tiger sharks will for instance spend 12 months a year off the coast of Florida, while others migrate all the way up to Nova Scotia in Canada each year. North Atlantic Tiger sharks are also known to frequent African costal waters all well as travel southward from the North Atlantic along the eastern coast of South America.

Tiger shark fact – hunting

The Tiger shark is a skilled predator and has developed a wide range of fascinating senses that will aid in the hunt. It has a keen sense of smell coupled with sharp eye sight. One of the more interesting Tiger shark facts regards its electro based hunting method; the Tiger shark is equipped with special electro receptors that can detect even slight electrical currents in the water.

Tiger shark fact – teeth

The Tiger shark relies on its sharp teeth when catching and holding prey. The teeth are curved and razor-shaped, and since they are highly serrated they look almost like saws. A less known Tiger shark fact regarding its teeth is how they are situated in rows that can rotate. Each Tiger shark has four rows of teeth, but will only use the first and second row when hunting. If it looses a tooth from any of the front rows one of the backer teeth will rotate forward to replace it. Teeth can be lost or damaged during a hunt as well as become gradually worn down until they are useless.

Tiger shark facts – reproduction

Tiger sharks live alone and seek out each others company only to mate. In the Northwest Atlantic, male and female Tiger sharks reach sexual maturity when they are around 8.5 feet long, and this size will typically be reached when the shark is around 7 years old. Tiger sharks are ovoviviparous and the female have a two year long reproduction cycle. One Tiger shark litter will typically contain from 35 to 55 embryos, but it is possible for one litter to contain over 80 embryos. The exact Tiger shark facts regarding the gestation period is still unknown, and while some research suggests 9 months other sources point to at least one year. Newly born Tiger sharks are roughly 50-75 centimetres long (20-30 inches)