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Tiger Shark
CarcharhiniformesAttack Relevant

Tiger Shark

Galeocerdo cuvier

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Max Length

5.5m

Litter Size

10 to 82 pups

Overview

Second only to the great white in recorded unprovoked attacks. Indiscriminate diet — the most diverse documented of any shark. Patrols shallow tropical and subtropical coastal reefs.

Habitat

Although the shark occurs off oceanic islands and has been photographed at a depth of 1,007 ft [305 m], it is regarded as a coastal species. The shark tolerates a wide variety of marine habitats and may be found in estuaries, turbid waters at river mouths, around jetties and wharves, coral atolls and lagoons.

Distribution

Tropical & subtropical seas worldwide

Circumglobal in tropical and warm temperate seas.

Behavior

General - The shark is usually solitary, but may be found in small groups of up to 6 individuals. This species is nocturnal; it comes inshore at night to feed and retreats offshore by day but often feeds near the surface on overcast days. Feeding - When feeding the shark uses its wide blunt snout to advantage; a tiger shark feeding on a large stingray was filmed pushing the ray's body into the sand and between rocks -- apparently to gain leverage in order to bite off a mouthful of flesh.

Human Safety

A tiger shark is inquisitive, and it may approach submerged divers and circle slowly at close range. Do not be lulled into a sense of security by its slow swimming movement and apparent lack of aggression; this shark may nonchalantly take a bite while remaining cool and casual. Tiger sharks have also become very aggressive toward spearfishermen and divers attracting the sharks in underwater photo sessions. Danger to humans - The tiger shark, like its jungle namesake, can be dangerous; its toll of victims throughout the world is second only to that of the white shark. It is considered the most dangerous tropical shark, and has been blamed for the majority of accidents in Australia and Hawaii. The shark's large

Biology

Diet
The tiger shark is omnivorous; it may attempt to consume virtually anything that can fit between its jaws. It feeds on bony fish, sharks, rays, marine turtles, marine mammals, sea snakes, sea birds, crustaceans, octopus and squid, jellyfish, carrion and garbage.
Reproduction
Ovoviviparous
Male Maturity
2.9m

Appearance

Tiger Shark illustration
Dorsal
Varies from brownish, olive, gray to black above; pale gray, dirty yellow, pale gray or white below. Young sharks have tiger-like vertical dark bars, but as the sharks age the marks fade and they are usually absent in adults.

Dentition

Upper jaw
The teeth in both jaws are identical: heavy cockscomb-shaped cutting teeth resembling diagonally positioned blades. The coarse serrations of the teeth have fine secondary serrations.
Sources:sharkattackfilesharksorg

Recorded incidents involving the tiger shark

Recorded

353

Fatal

90

Fatality rate

25.5%

Years

1000–2026

Top countries

Years with most incidents

Counts are based on the species field of the Global Shark Attack File. Identifications by witnesses are often uncertain; treat figures as recorded incidents, not authoritative totals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shark attacks have been recorded involving the tiger shark?
353 incidents in the Global Shark Attack File mention the tiger shark, of which 90 were fatal (25.5%). Note that witness species identifications are often uncertain, so this is the count of recorded incidents.
Where do most tiger shark incidents occur?
The countries with the most recorded tiger shark incidents are United States, Australia, Brazil.
Is the tiger shark dangerous to humans?
The tiger shark is considered relevant to human-shark incidents and has been recorded in the Global Shark Attack File. As with any large shark, encounters in the wild should be avoided.
Where does this species data come from?
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed taxonomy and published references. Incident data is sourced from the Global Shark Attack File and joined to species records by name match.
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