Sealife guideThe tiger sharkGaleocerdo cuvier

Last updated on 08/13/2025 at 11:50 PM
Taxonomy
Description
The tiger shark gets its name from the typical markings covering its body when it is still young, resembling those of tigers. The tiger shark can reach a maximum length of 24.6 feet and weigh up to 1,760 pounds.
The tiger shark has markings like a tiger !
The tiger shark has markings like a tiger !
Geographic range
The tiger shark is found in the tropical and temperate waters of oceans around the globe: in French Polynesia, the Bahamas, Mauritius and off the coast of Djibouti, …
Habitat
The tiger shark can be found from the surface down to depths of 1,214 feet, but it particularly prefers shallower waters, from the surface to 459 feet, along coastlines, at the mouths of estuaries, or in ports. The tiger shark is also commonly found along coral reefs or in lagoon areas of atolls.
Diet
The tiger shark is not picky and eats anything that comes its way! It feeds on waste, marine mammals, turtles, birds, smaller sharks and all kinds of fish.
Reproduction
The tiger shark is ovoviviparous. When the females give birth, the baby tiger sharks already have markings on their skin. As they grow, the markings evolve to resemble those of tigers. Finally, once they reach adulthood, the markings fade and become much less visible.
Did you know ?
The tiger shark is, after the great white shark, the most dangerous shark species to humans.
The tiger shark prefers the shallower waters of coral reefs and lagoons !
The tiger shark prefers the shallower waters of coral reefs and lagoons !
It is known that the tiger shark sometimes feeds on its own young !
The oldest tiger shark ever encountered was 50 years old !
The tiger shark is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The tiger shark appears in the IUCN Red List since 2019 within the category Near Threatened !
Within the same family
Blacknose shark (Carcharhinus acronotus)
Blacknose shark
(Carcharhinus acronotus)
Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus)
Blacktip shark
(Carcharhinus limbatus)
Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi)
Caribbean reef shark
(Carcharhinus perezi)
Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris)
Lemon shark
(Negaprion brevirostris)
Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)
Oceanic whitetip shark
(Carcharhinus longimanus)
Silky Shark (Carcharhinus falciformis)
Silky Shark
(Carcharhinus falciformis)
Silvertip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
Silvertip shark
(Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus)
Whitetip reef shark
(Triaenodon obesus)
Discover also
Banded houndshark (Triakis scyllium)
Banded houndshark
(Triakis scyllium)
Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
Great white shark
(Carcharodon carcharias)
Ornate wobbegong (Orectolobus ornatus)
Ornate wobbegong
(Orectolobus ornatus)
Port Jackson shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni)
Port Jackson shark
(Heterodontus portusjacksoni)
Pyjama shark (Poroderma africanum)
Pyjama shark
(Poroderma africanum)
Sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus)
Sand tiger shark
(Carcharias taurus)
Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini)
Scalloped hammerhead
(Sphyrna lewini)
Tawny nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus)
Tawny nurse shark
(Nebrius ferrugineus)
The marine species from Caribbean sea
Banded cleaner shrimp (Stenopus hispidus)
Banded cleaner shrimp
(Stenopus hispidus)
Blackbar soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus)
Blackbar soldierfish
(Myripristis jacobus)
Blue striped grunt (Haemulon sciurus)
Blue striped grunt
(Haemulon sciurus)
Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Common bottlenose dolphin
(Tursiops truncatus)
Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus)
Doctorfish
(Acanthurus chirurgus)
Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata)
Elkhorn coral
(Acropora palmata)
Gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus)
Gray snapper
(Lutjanus griseus)
Red cushion sea star (Oreaster reticulatus)
Red cushion sea star
(Oreaster reticulatus)
Dive centers
Centre de plongée des Ilets
'Les Ilets' dive center
Noa Plongée
Noa dive center
Vous abonnez !

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