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 reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
Blacktip reef shark
(Carcharhinus melanopterus)
Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas)
Bull shark
(Carcharhinus leucas)
Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi)
Caribbean reef shark
(Carcharhinus perezi)
Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis)
Galapagos shark
(Carcharhinus galapagensis)
Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus)
Sandbar shark
(Carcharhinus plumbeus)
Silky Shark (Carcharhinus falciformis)
Silky Shark
(Carcharhinus falciformis)
Silvertip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
Silvertip shark
(Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
Discover also
Blind shark (Brachaelurus waddi)
Blind shark
(Brachaelurus waddi)
Common angelshark (Squatina squatina)
Common angelshark
(Squatina squatina)
Hammerhead shark (9 espèces)
Hammerhead shark
(9 espèces)
Leopard catshark (Poroderma pantherinum)
Leopard catshark
(Poroderma pantherinum)
Leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata)
Leopard shark
(Triakis semifasciata)
Port Jackson shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni)
Port Jackson shark
(Heterodontus portusjacksoni)
Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias)
Spiny dogfish
(Squalus acanthias)
Spotted wobbegong (Orectolobus maculatus)
Spotted wobbegong
(Orectolobus maculatus)
The marine species from Caribbean sea
Blue striped grunt (Haemulon sciurus)
Blue striped grunt
(Haemulon sciurus)
Checkered puffer (Sphoeroides testudineus)
Checkered puffer
(Sphoeroides testudineus)
Foureye butterflyfish (Chaetodon capistratus)
Foureye butterflyfish
(Chaetodon capistratus)
Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)
Great barracuda
(Sphyraena barracuda)
Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Green sea turtle
(Chelonia mydas)
Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Hawksbill sea turtle
(Eretmochelys imbricata)
Longspine squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus)
Longspine squirrelfish
(Holocentrus rufus)
White grunt (Haemulon plumierii)
White grunt
(Haemulon plumierii)
Dive centers
Centre de plongée des Ilets
'Les Ilets' dive center
Noa Plongée
Noa dive center
Vous abonnez !

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