20 Interesting Facts About Tiger Sharks

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  1. The Tiger shark is a species of the shark family Carcharhinidae, containing nearly 50 species. Other famous members of this family are blacktip sharks, whitetip sharks, and bull sharks.
  2. Tiger sharks protect seagrasses from dugongs, sea turtles, and other marine animals that eat these flowering plants. In the presence of tiger sharks, these grazers keep a distance from their favorite food due to fear of these sharks. (Source)
  3. In 1935, a newly captured tiger shark vomited a human arm in an aquarium in Sydney. This arm assisted in solving an Australian murder mystery. (Source)
  4. The tiger shark is the fourth largest fish species and the second largest non-filter-feeding fish after the great white shark. It can reach a length of 15 feet or even more. Female tiger sharks are larger than males. The maximum length is nearly 18 feet in females and 12 feet in male sharks.
  5. Tiger sharks are present in tropical and temperate waters around the globe. These sharks usually inhabit shallow waters near coral reefs and seagrasses. However, they also roam in the deep ocean occasionally. A study in the Bahamas proves that tiger sharks swim up to the depth of 2,000 feet regularly. (Source)
    A tiger shark in deep ocean
    Tiger sharks occasionally move to deep ocean

  6. The tiger shark is the second-most dangerous shark to humans after great white sharks. These sharks become aggressive after spotting humans in the water. (Source)
  7. Tiger sharks are named due to their visible stripes. These stripes are prominent in juveniles and start fading with age. After adulthood, these stripes almost disappear from tiger sharks.
  8. Tiger sharks are the only member of their family with ovoviviparous reproduction. The gestation period of a female shark is 15 to 16 months, and it reproduces once after three years. (Source)
  9. Female tiger sharks have several fertilized eggs in both their uteri. However, the two elder babies of sand tiger sharks eat their siblings before birth in their mother’s womb. Therefore, only two babies remain in each womb at the time of birth. This sibling cannibalism increases the size of newborn sand tiger sharks, thus protecting them from several predators. (Source)
  10. Tiger sharks consume a wide variety of marine and terrestrial prey. They commonly eat fish, crustaceans (crabs, lobsters, etc.), marine birds, small sharks, seals, squids, turtles, snakes, and porpoises.
  11. Tiger sharks can attack and kill injured or ailing humpback whales. NOAA has recorded at least one such incident which included nearly 25 tiger sharks killing a one-year old whale. (Source)
  12. Tiger sharks can share a large meal with other animals. A video shows them sharing carcass of a humpback whale with a saltwater crocodile. (Source)
  13. Killer whales are the only known animals that kill and eat adult tiger sharks. Orcas use a brutal technique to hunt these sharks. (Source)
  14. Tiger sharks are famous as the "trash cans of the sea" due to their consumption of all types of available food, including garbage. In addition to marine and coastal animals, these opportunistic predators also eat strange objects, such as bottles, tires, cans, and books. Unlike most other animals, these sharks hunt and eat their prey even when they are not hungry. (Source)
    Upper teeth of tiger sharks
    Double-serrated teeth in tiger sharks are one of the sharpest among sharks

  15. Tiger sharks have one of the sharpest teeth among sharks. However, these deeply notched teeth lose their sharpness earlier than teeth in most other shark species. (Source)
  16. The discovery of fossils of well-mineralized teeth of ancient tiger sharks reveals that they are around 13.8 million years old. The study also shows there were multiple tiger shark species in the past compared to the current single species. Modern tiger sharks can cut through the hard shells of sea turtles with their double-serrated sharp teeth. (Source)
  17. The primary threat for tiger sharks is hunting for skin, flesh, and liver. Tiger shark liver contains a high amount of Vitamin A, which is used for the preparation of Vitamin oil. Due to extensive hunting and low reproduction rates, the IUCN has listed them as "near threatened" throughout their range. 
  18. Tiger sharks can live from 27 to 37 years in the wild, while some can reach up to 50 years in ideal conditions. Unlike many other animals, their lifespan decreases in captivity as they struggle to eat dead food. Therefore, they usually live up to 20 years in aquariums.
  19. Tiger sharks can give birth from 10 to 80 pups per litter after a gestation period of 13 to 16 months. The average litter size is 20 to 30 live young. 
  20. Tiger sharks have dark dorsal side and lighter underside. Shades in their upper body vary from gray to blue and black. This coloration provides camouflage and assists while hunting prey.

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