Tiger shark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tiger shark |
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The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is a type of ground shark. These amazing sharks live in many warm tropical and mild temperate waters. They are often found near central Pacific islands. Tiger sharks get their name from the dark stripes on their bodies, which look a lot like a tiger's pattern!
Tiger sharks usually hunt alone, mostly at night. They eat many different things, like crabs, fish, seals, birds, squid, turtles, sea snakes, dolphins, and even smaller sharks. They are also known as "garbage eaters" because they sometimes swallow man-made objects. The only animal known to hunt tiger sharks is the orca. Sadly, tiger sharks are considered a near threatened species. This is because people catch them for their fins and meat.
While tiger sharks are powerful hunters, attacks on humans are very rare. The great white has more recorded attacks, but both are still extremely uncommon.
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All About Tiger Sharks
The tiger shark was first described by scientists Péron and Lesueur in 1822. Its scientific name, Galeocerdo, comes from Greek words meaning "shark" and "fox." This shark is the only living member of its group.
- Order: Tiger sharks belong to the group called Carcharhiniformes. This group has the most types of sharks!
- Family: Their family is called Galeocerdonidae.
What Do Tiger Sharks Look Like?
An adult tiger shark is usually about 11.5 to 15.5 feet (3.5 to 4.7 meters) long. They can weigh between 700 and 2,000 pounds (318 to 907 kg). Female tiger sharks are usually bigger than males.
Tiger sharks are the second largest predatory sharks, right after the great white shark. While the whale shark and basking shark are larger, they are filter feeders, meaning they eat tiny organisms.
Tiger Shark Teeth
Tiger sharks have many rows of teeth. New teeth are always growing to replace old ones throughout their lives. Their teeth are super sharp with small bumps called serrations. The tip of each tooth points sideways. This design helps them slice through flesh, bone, and even tough turtle shells!
Tiger Shark Body and Movement
Tiger sharks have long fins that help them move easily through the water. Their long upper tail helps them get quick bursts of speed. They usually swim with small body movements.
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Tiger shark jaws
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Jaws, wide open
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Upper teeth
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Lower teeth
Tiger Shark Skin and Senses
The skin of a tiger shark can be blue or light green, with a white or light-yellow belly. This helps them camouflage themselves. From above, their dark backs blend with the deep water. From below, their light bellies blend with the sunlight coming from the surface. This is called countershading.
Young sharks have dark spots and stripes, but these fade as they get older. They have a wedge-shaped head that helps them turn quickly. Tiger sharks also have tiny pits on their snout called ampullae of Lorenzini. These help them feel the weak electric fields of their prey. They also have a lateral line to detect small movements in the water.
Tiger Shark Vision
Tiger sharks have clear eyelids called nictitating membranes. They also have a special reflective layer behind their retina called the tapetum lucidum. This layer helps them see very well, especially at night.
Where Do Tiger Sharks Live?
Tiger sharks are usually found close to the coast. They live mainly in warm tropical and subtropical waters all over the world. They prefer warmer areas and stay closer to the equator during colder months.
What Do Tiger Sharks Eat?
The tiger shark is an apex predator, meaning it's at the top of its food chain. It's famous for eating almost anything! Adult tiger sharks eat many kinds of fish, crabs, sea birds, sea snakes, marine mammals (like bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, spotted dolphins, dugongs, seals, and sea lions), and sea turtles. This includes the largest sea turtles like the leatherback, loggerhead, and green sea turtles.
Their wide jaws and strong, serrated teeth allow them to tackle large prey. Their excellent eyesight and sharp sense of smell help them find even tiny traces of blood. Their ability to sense vibrations and electric fields, along with their camouflage, makes them amazing hunters. When they attack, they often swallow their prey whole. If the prey is too big, they take large bites over time.
Sometimes, tiger sharks found near Hawaii have had land animals in their stomachs. Because they eat so aggressively, they sometimes swallow things that aren't food by mistake. Things like car license plates, oil cans, tires, and even baseballs have been found in their stomachs! Because of this, tiger sharks are often called the "garbage cans of the sea."
Tiger Shark Reproduction
Male tiger sharks are ready to mate when they are about 7.5 to 9.5 feet (2.3 to 2.9 meters) long. Females are ready when they are about 8.2 to 11.5 feet (2.5 to 3.5 meters) long. Females mate about once every three years and give birth about 16 months later. The tiger shark is unique in its family because it is ovoviviparous. This means their eggs hatch inside the mother, and the young are born alive and fully developed.
A mother tiger shark can have anywhere from 10 to 80 pups at a time! A newborn pup is usually about 20 to 30 inches (51 to 76 cm) long. We don't know exactly how long tiger sharks live, but they can live for more than 12 years.
Tiger Sharks and Conservation
Tiger sharks are caught and killed for their fins, flesh, and liver. Their liver has a lot of vitamin A and is used to make vitamin oils. This overfishing has led to them being considered a near threatened species.
Tiger Sharks and Humans
Even though shark bites are rare, people often see tiger sharks as one of the most dangerous shark species. This is partly because they often swim in shallower waters where people also swim. For example, in 2003, surfing champion Bethany Hamilton lost her left arm to a tiger shark when she was 13 years old.
Tiger Sharks in Mythology
Some native Hawaiians believe tiger sharks are sacred 'aumākua, which are ancestor spirits. They are seen as family guardians who can connect humans with the divine. People believe these spirits can take on many different forms.
Fun Facts About Tiger Sharks
- Tiger sharks are among the largest animals living in our oceans.
- In North America, you can find them on the east coast from Cape Cod to Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico. On the west coast, they are found from California southward.
- Female tiger sharks only mate once every three years.
- A tiger shark's skin feels like sandpaper.
- They prefer to surprise their prey rather than chase prey that sees them.
- They usually hunt alone and feed at night.
- Unlike some other predatory sharks, tiger sharks have almost the same number of teeth on their upper and lower jaws.
- Things like license plates, tires, and even other sharks have been found in tiger sharks' stomachs!
- The stripes and spots on young tiger sharks fade as they grow older.
- Tiger sharks are ovoviviparous, meaning their eggs hatch inside them, and they give birth to live young.
- Female tiger sharks are larger than male tiger sharks.
- Unlike humans, tiger sharks lose and regrow their teeth throughout their lives. People often find their teeth and make them into jewelry.
Images for kids
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Tiger shark in The Bahamas
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Tiger shark size compared to a human
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Tiger shark range map
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Juvenile tiger shark in the Bahamas
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A female tiger shark pup at the Aquarium of the Pacific
See also
In Spanish: Tiburón tigre para niños
