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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.
- 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, 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
Jul 1, 2024 · Learn about the tiger shark, a large, potentially dangerous shark that eats anything from fishes to garbage. Find out its distribution, appearance, behavior, and conservation status in this Britannica article.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Learn about the tiger shark, a large predator with stripes that lives in subtropical and tropical waters worldwide. Find out what it eats, how it reproduces, and why it is threatened by human activities.
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.
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Named for its characteristic vertical bars along its body, the tiger shark is the second largest predatory shark species. Learn how you can protect them.