Tiger shark

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The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is a large, world‑wide predator found in tropical and warm temperate waters, especially around central Pacific islands. Females can grow over 5 meters long, but most adults are about 3.5 to 4.7 meters and weigh roughly 300 to 900 kilograms. It gets its name from dark stripes along its body that fade as it matures. The tiger shark has a broad, wedge‑shaped head, very sharp serrated teeth, and a body built for powerful, slicing bites. It can detect electric fields and vibrations in the water and has good night vision, which helps it hunt in the dark.

Tiger sharks are mostly solitary and hunt along coastlines, reefs, and channels, sometimes venturing into deeper water. They eat almost anything: fish, crustaceans, squid, sea turtles, seals, dolphins, seabirds, other sharks, and even inedible objects that end up in their stomachs, earning them the nickname “garbage can of the sea.” Orcas are their main natural predators.

They reproduce in a unique way. Tiger sharks are ovoviviparous, with embryos developing inside eggs that hatch inside the mother. They practice embryotrophy, meaning the young are nourished inside the womb. Gestation lasts many months, and a litter can range from about 10 to 80 pups. Males mature at about 2.3 to 2.9 meters, females at 2.5 to 3.5 meters. Birth typically occurs every three years. Newborns are around 51 to 76 centimeters long. Lifespan is not precisely known but can be at least 12 years.

Conservation status is Near Threatened due to overfishing and finning, with several populations declining where fishing is heavy. They are hunted for fins, meat, and liver oil, and widespread encounters with humans can lead to attacks, though such incidents are rare. The tiger shark is second only to the great white in reported shark bites on humans.

In Hawaiian culture, tiger sharks are considered sacred ʻaumākua, or family guardians. They migrate with warming ocean currents and are found in many parts of the world, including the Mediterranean on rare occasions.