Within the shark species, the Tiger shark is one of the most popular. It is one of the most studied species and the one that has more information together with the great White shark. A lot is known about all its characteristics, its behavior and its way of life.
In this article we will study it in depth to be able to give you all the information possible about him.
Key features
When we talk about the tiger shark, we are referring to this species that belongs to the genus Galeocerdo. It is also known by the common name of sea tiger. Its family is the Carcharhinidae and is only living representative of its genus. It is obvious that the name is due to its resemblance to the tiger: when they are young, the back is usually covered with dark stripes reminiscent of that feline.
These stripes fade and eventually disappear as they grow into adults. The tiger shark is a top predator. Its role in balance of the ecosystems where it lives is crucial: it limits the overabundance of prey, prevents marine herbivores from ravaging seagrass meadows, and reduces the spread of diseases by consuming weak individuals or carrion.
In addition to all of the above, it is considered one of the larger sharks (excluding whale shark). It has a robust body, a high dorsal fin and a heterocercal caudal fin with a longer upper lobe, a typical feature of carcharhinids.
From the point of view taxonomic, fits like this:
- Order: Carcharhiniformes (sharks with nictitating membrane and five gill slits)
- Family: Carcharhinidae
- Gender: Galeocerdo
- Species: cuvier galeopig
Description
We found an animal with a size between 3 and 4,5 meters in length. Some specimens can easily exceed 5 meters and reach very high weights; there are exceptional reports of greater lengths, although the usual range is medium. As you can see, it is a fairly large animal and one of the largest in existence. Its color is white in the ventral area and blue or green on the back (also greenish-grey), a pattern of backlight or backshadow which camouflages the shark: seen from above it blends in with the darkness of the bottom and, seen from below, its light belly blends in with the light on the surface.
On its back there are stripes that make it look like tigers when they are young. Later, as they develop, they are lost. Its wedge-shaped head and flat nose allow for quick side turns. It features a wide mouth, parabolic in shape, with developed labial folds. Their jaws are very strong and capable of crushing even the shell of a turtle. The teeth, large and strongly sawn, are designed to cut and tear; if they are lost during hunting, are continually replaced for new rows.
As for the senses, the tiger shark is a specialist. It has Lorenzini ampoules (electroreceptors in the snout) to detect the weak electric fields of their prey and a lateral line that captures vibrations and movements in the water. It has nictitating membrane that protects the eye when attacking and a tapestry of light which improves vision in low-light conditions, features that favor its nocturnal activity.
The shape of its head is quite flat, almost rectangular. Its silhouette highlights a tall, pointed dorsal fin, broad, sickle-shaped pectoral fins, and a caudal fin with a more developed upper lobe. Overall, the body is stocky and tapers toward the tail, optimizing hydrodynamics.
As for sight and smell, it has a high capacity to locate prey and sniff them out from a great distance. This makes it a feared predator for many species. However, as we mentioned before, it performs a fundamental function for the balance of ecosystems where it takes place.
The ability to replace teeth is perfect for alleviating problems caused by tears and broken teeth. Like other sharks, it is capable of detect the electric field thanks to its sensory organs. The behavior of this animal is mostly solitary and is usually most active at night. Normally, its life expectancy is around five decades.
Habitat and feeding of the tiger shark
Tiger sharks typically live in waters all over the world. Although they are capable of thriving in different environments, They prefer tropical and subtropical areas due to the warmth of the waters.
The areas with the greatest presence include the Caribbean Sea’s most emblematic landmarks, the gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, Canary Islands, a good part of the Indian Ocean’s most emblematic landmarks, the Western Pacific and central (for example Japan, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Galapagos Islands) and temperate sectors of the western Atlantic. In the Mediterranean its presence is exceptional and is associated in any case with occasional incursions from the Atlantic through areas close to straits.
The tiger shark moves mainly in the Continental platform and coastal waters, from surf zones to shallow bays, with a preference for habitats where productivity is high, such as shallow reefs, river mouths, harbors and channels. Although it is common between the surface and the 191 m deep, can make deeper dives when conditions permit. Regulates its buoyancy swallowing air and storing it in the stomach, which helps it maintain positions in the water column with less energy expenditure.
As for his diet, he is not fussy when it comes to eating: he is a opportunistic carnivore with the broadest diet among large sharks. Humans are not part of their regular diet.
Among the foods that he usually frequents are: bony fish, squid, crustaceans, octopus, lobsters, rays and birds. If conditions require it, it can prey other sharks. Often consumes sea ​​turtles, whose shell cannot withstand the combined force of its serrated teeth and mandibular power. It also takes advantage carrion of large marine vertebrates when available, thereby reducing the accumulation of remains in the ecosystem.
Their hunting success is based on the surprise factor and an approach from below, favored by its camouflage. It usually hunts at night, when its encounter rate with prey increases. If the prey detects the threat, it may flee through crevices or narrow structures where the shark, due to its size, has difficulty maneuvering. Occasionally, it performs a identification bite to assess the nutritional value of the prey before deciding whether to consume it.
Although it is one of the species with the highest number of documented incidents with humans, similar to the case of the bull shark’s most emblematic landmarks, the individual risk is lowIt tends to visit productive coastal areas, which increases the likelihood of encounters, but most interactions do not result in an attack, and when they do occur, they are rarely fatal.
Reproduction
This animal reproduces in a way ovoviviparousThat is, they carry their young inside them, but wrapped in an egg. The egg hatches inside to give rise to the new individual. Before mating, they must reach sexual maturity. The male can reach it at approximately 7 years of age. while the females They do so a little later. This timing difference is typical of long-lived, slow-growing sharks.
A fact that is usually curious to anyone who learns about these sharks is that mating only occurs approximately every three years. However, Each female can have between 30 and 50 offspring, and in exceptional cases even larger clutches have been recorded. The young may remain on the mother's body for up to 16 months. Newborns measure around 60–75 cm and they are independent from the very beginning.
During mating, the male holds the female with controlled bites, a common behavior in sharks. It is thought that females use breeding areas coastal and protected areas (bays, estuaries) for giving birth, where the young find more food and fewer large predators. Growth is slow, and physical maturity may occur before sexual maturity, the latter being established when males are around 2,2 m long and females are 2,6 m long, with regional variations.
Behavior and lifestyle
The tiger shark is a fish solitary and predominantly nocturnal that patrols large areas in search of feeding opportunities. It makes considerable movements along the coast, with seasonal migrations influenced by temperature, prey availability and reproductive cycles.
He usually swims in a paused near the bottom, but it is not uncommon to observe them in mid-water or at the surface, especially at dawn and dusk. Some populations remain loyal to certain productive areas, while others travel long distances between feeding and breeding grounds.
Although its behavior is solitary, it can group together in a temporary when there are large food sources, such as cetacean carrion. In these events, a access hierarchy based on size, with priority given to older individuals, which reduces conflicts and injuries.
Its tolerance to different salinities allows it to enter into river mouths and areas with nutrient-rich runoff, where prey is abundant. This ecological plasticity explains their wide distribution and frequent presence in dynamic coastal environments.
Conservation and relationship with humans
The tiger shark is classified as Near Threatened (IUCN) due to pressures from targeted and accidental fishing. It is caught for meat consumption, for the extraction of liver oil and for their finsAlthough the species shows some resilience due to its wide distribution, its low reproductive rate makes it vulnerable to overexploitation.
Measures have been implemented in different regions fisheries management, closed seasons, minimum sizes, release of pregnant females and programs marking and tracking that help understand their movements and reduce accidental catches. Responsible ecotourism in areas such as tropical reefs has shown that the tiger shark can coexist with human activities if good practices are respected.
Reduce risk of awkward encounters includes some basic recommendations:
- Do not feed sharks or participate in practices that condition them to associate humans with food.
- Avoid swimming in estuaries from rivers, murky waters or areas where there are fishing remains.
- Do not isolate yourself: in a group, risk is reduced and collective visibility is improved.
- Respect animals, keeping distance and avoiding sudden movements if one is spotted.
The tiger shark, despite its reputation, has a low bite rate in relation to the enormous number of people who use beaches daily and engage in water sports within their range. The key is to understand their ecology and act with common sense.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about this impressive shark. Knowing its anatomical features, its wide trophic repertoire, habitats that occupies and how it is play It helps us to appreciate it in its true measure: an essential top predator for the health of the oceans that, well managed and respected, can coexist with us without conflict.
