Mike Mascarenhas
Search results
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.
Learn about the tiger shark, a large, blunt-nosed predator with dark stripes on juveniles. Find out how it hunts, what it eats, and why it is near threatened by fishing pressure.
- 2 min
- It is one of three sharks species known as “man-eaters” This is due to incidents of fatal attacks on humans. The nickname is misleading, however, as fatal attacks by tiger sharks are rare, and more human fatalities occur by drowning in coastal waters.
- It inhabits different kinds of marine habitats. Previously thought to live in shallow coastal areas, where its prey feeds on nutrient-rich waters, it has recently been found up to depths of 350m, and travels long distances in open oceans, following warm currents between islands.
- Its dark stripes fade as the shark matures. Skin coloration can be helpful to identify shark species but, in the case of the tiger shark, it’s only the youngster who shows the distinctive dark lines and spots, perhaps for better camouflage in the shadows of waves.
- Its skin feels like sandpaper. The surface of its skin is covered with tiny teeth-like structures which are thought to reduce friction with water as it swims.
Learn about the tiger shark, a large and aggressive predator that eats almost anything and lives in tropical and temperate waters. Find out its distribution, habitat, feeding habits, reproduction, and conservation status.
Jun 8, 2024 · Learn about the tiger shark, a large, potentially dangerous shark that eats anything and lives in warm oceans. Find out its size, appearance, behavior, and commercial value, and watch videos of it and other shark species.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
About. There’s a reason tiger sharks have that name—they’re as fierce predators in the sea as their orange-and-black namesakes on land! Plus, as juveniles, tiger sharks have dark, vertical stripes which are harder to spot as they get older.
Learn about the tiger shark, a large and aggressive predator that can eat anything from fish to trash. Find out where it lives, how it hunts, and why it is near threatened by overfishing.
