The sand tiger shark has a conical-shaped snout and very sharp, dagger-like teeth. It averages around 6.5 feet in length but can reach a maximum length of up to 10.5 feet and weigh as much as 353 pounds.

The sand tiger shark has a grayish-brown body with brown spots scattered along its sides.

The sand tiger shark is found in the coastal waters of western and southern Africa, as well as along the eastern, western, and southern coasts of Australia. It is also found to a lesser extent in southern South America, the southeastern United States, and the Atlantic Ocean.

The sand tiger shark is most commonly found at depths of around 80 feet, but it can occasionally descend to depths of nearly 660 feet. It usually stays close to sandy bottoms along the coast, near coral reefs, or in rocky areas with caves or deep crevices.

The sand tiger shark can live either alone or in groups of around 20 to 80 individuals.

The sand tiger shark feeds mainly, like most shark species, on various types of fish, as well as mollusks and crustaceans.

The sand tiger shark is ovoviviparous. After a gestation period of 9 to 12 months, the female gives birth to only two sand tiger shark pups at a time. This is because in each of the female's uteri, the most developed embryo devours the other embryos and eggs present. This phenomenon is known as embryophagy or intrauterine cannibalism. At birth, the shark pups are already around 3.3 feet long.

The sand tiger shark is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The sand tiger shark appears in the IUCN Red List since 2021 within the category Critically Endangered !