tiger shark tiger shark species requiem shark extant member genus commonly known tiger shark relatively large capable attaining length found tropical temperate waters especially common central pacific islands derives dark stripes body resemble tiger pattern fade shark matures tiger shark solitary nocturnal hunter notable having widest food spectrum sharks consuming variety prey ranging crustaceans fish seals birds squid turtles sea snakes smaller sharks tiger shark known eat objects stomach reputation garbage tiger shark sits atop food chain apex predator killer known occasion prey tiger shark considered near threatened species fishing humans taxonomy shark described given renamed genus derived greek means shark latin word hard hairs pigs colloquially called man shark tiger shark member order species rich order sharks species including small sharks members order characterized presence membrane eyes dorsal fins anal fin gill slits largest member family commonly referred requiem sharks family consists slender powerful mid- large sized sharks includes known sharks blue shark lemon shark bull shark description tiger shark commonly length weighs exceptionally large male tiger shark grow females larger exceptionally big ones reportedly measure female specimen caught australia reportedly measured long weighed exceptional weight thought bolstered pregnant state time larger specimens reported unconfirmed largest extant sharks tiger shark ranks average size whale shark shark great white shark species sharks pacific sleeper sharks greenland sharks sharks broadly overlap size tiger shark species comparatively poorly studied unclear typical mature size matches tiger shark great member taxonomic order tiger shark similar greater average body length lighter maximum known weight teeth specialized slice flesh bone tough substances turtle shells like sharks teeth continually replaced rows new teeth skin skin tiger shark typically range blue light green white light yellow advantage hunting prey prey looks shark shark water darker prey shark looks course sun lighter light camouflage shark known dark spots stripes visible young sharks fade shark matures head somewhat wedge shaped makes easy turn quickly small pits snout hold called enable detect electric fields including weak electrical generated prey helps hunt tiger sharks sensory organ called lateral line extends flanks length sides primary role structure detect minute vibrations water adaptations allow tiger shark hunt darkness detect hidden prey vision reflective layer tiger shark called allows light sensing cells second chance capture visible light enhancing vision low light conditions tiger shark generally long fins provide lift shark maneuvers water long upper tail provides bursts speed tiger sharks normally swim small body movements high dorsal fin act pivot allowing spin quickly axis shark dorsal fins close tail distribution habitat tiger shark found close coast mainly tropical subtropical waters world behavior primarily nomadic guided warmer currents stays closer equator colder months tends stay deep waters line reefs channels pursue prey shallower waters western pacific_ocean shark found far north japan far south new_zealand tiger shark tagged caribbean tracked migrating tropical species warm brings coast extreme north range summer tiger sharks seen gulf_of_mexico north american beaches parts south_america commonly known caribbean_sea locations tiger sharks seen include africa china hong_kong india australia indonesia certain tiger sharks recorded depths shy sources claim shallow water normally thought shallow species size recent study showed average tiger shark recorded making uncommon tiger sharks shallow water tiger sharks hawaii observed depths shallow regularly observed coastal waters depths feeding tiger shark apex predator reputation eating young tiger sharks found prey largely small fish small cephalopods time attain near sexual maturity prey selection expands considerably larger animals regular prey numerous fish crustaceans sea birds sea snakes marine mammals common spotted seals sea lions sea turtles including largest species green sea turtles regularly eaten adult tiger sharks tiger shark eats sharks including adult sharks rays eat tiger sharks high risk predatory attacks avoid regions inhabited tiger sharks tiger sharks attack injured ailing prey group documented attacking killing ailing whale near hawaii tiger shark dead documented incident observed whale alongside great white sharks evidence predation identified study found tissue tiger sharks caught australian coast additionally examination adult shown failed shark attacks finally shift similarly known tiger shark prey sharks abundant broad heavily jaws nearly terminal mouth combined robust teeth enable tiger shark large prey addition excellent acute sense smell enable react faint traces blood follow source ability pick low frequency pressure waves enables shark advance animal confidence water shark circles prey studies snout attacking shark eats prey larger prey eaten gradual large bites finished time notably terrestrial mammals including horses goats sheep dogs cats brown rats fairly common stomach contents tiger sharks coasts hawaii case remains flying found stomach shark aggressive feeding style mistakenly eats objects automobile license plates oil cans tires swimming efficiency stealth tiger sharks generally swim slowly combined cryptic coloration difficult prey detect habitats especially dark backgrounds despite sluggish appearance tiger sharks strongest swimmers sharks shark come close speed burst allows reach intended prey escape reproduction males reach sexual maturity females females mate years breed internal male female opening acting guide sperm male uses teeth hold female procedure causing female considerable discomfort mating generally takes place march birth april june following year mating takes place november december early january tiger shark species family eggs hatch internally young born live fully developed young develop inside mother body months litters range pups newborn generally long shark typically reaches maturity lengths unknown long tiger sharks live live longer years conservation tiger shark captured killed fins flesh liver caught regularly target fisheries populations declined heavily continued demand fins result declines future tiger sharks considered near threatened species excessive fishing humans according shark fin nutrients shark liver high concentration production addition tiger shark captured killed distinct skin big game added tiger shark red list list fish commonly sold world high risk sourced fisheries relationship humans rare sharks bite humans tiger shark reported responsible large percentage fatal shark attacks regarded dangerous shark species visit shallow reefs canals creating potential encounter humans tiger shark river mouths runoff rich water tiger shark considered sharks dangerous humans bite rate low tiger second list number recorded bites humans great white shark average shark bites occur year hawaii rarely fatal bite rate low considering thousands people swim surf dive hawaiian waters day human interactions tiger sharks hawaiian waters shown increase september november tiger shark females believed migrate islands birth tiger sharks effort protect tourism industry efforts despite damaging shark population shown ineffective decreasing number interactions humans tiger sharks illegal feed sharks hawaii traditional hawaiian cultural religious practices interaction cage diving discouraged south african shark shark demonstrated divers interact dive outside shark cage discovery channel special underwater photographer swam bahamas mythology tiger shark considered sacred ancestor spirits native think special powers visual perception general known facts sharks highly developed senses
Tiger shark