“..and today we’re talking about something that jealousy took two of the coolest animals for its name.”
If you’ve ever found yourself watching a toddler shove random objects into their mouth, you’ve witnessed a fraction of the chaos that is the tiger shark. With an appetite as indiscriminate as a black hole and the curiosity of a raccoon on Red Bull, this oceanic outlaw isn’t picky when it comes to mealtime. From sea turtles to license plates, if it fits in its mouth, it might just be dinner. But sometimes, those taste tests come with unexpected consequences—like the tiger shark here in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.
Description
Tiger sharks get their name from the dark, vertical stripes found mainly on juveniles. As they grow, these stripes fade but are still faintly visible.
Measure Up
Length
10 to 14 feet (3 to 4.3 meters) and sometimes even up to 18 feet (5.5 meters).
- 30 wings spans of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
- 25 Go-Gurts
- 15 sharks go into an offshore wind turbines blade
Weight
Adult tiger sharks typically weigh between 850 to 1,400 pounds (385 to 635 kilograms). The largest tiger sharks can weigh over 1,900 pounds (860 kilograms).
- 4 female tigers
- 85 sharks go into a german WWII Tiger I tank
- 17 Bruce and Shark electric folding scooters
Fast Facts
Diet: They are often referred to as “garbage cans of the sea” because of their diverse diet, which includes fish, seals, birds, smaller sharks, squid, sea turtles, and even inedible objects.
Habitat: They prefer warmer waters and can be found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world. They are often seen near coastlines.
Behavior: Unlike many other sharks, tiger sharks are known for their curious and often aggressive nature, making them a bit more likely to approach divers and swimmers.
Reproduction: Female tiger sharks have a unique reproductive strategy called ovoviviparity. The eggs hatch inside the mother’s body, and she gives birth to live young, usually between 10 to 80 pups at a time.
Lifespan: They have a relatively long lifespan for sharks, living up to 50 years or more in the wild.
Conservation Status: Tiger sharks are currently classified as “Near Threatened” due to fishing pressures and habitat loss.
Tiger sharks have a remarkably strong bite! Their bite force is estimated to be around 325 kilograms (716 pounds) per square centimeter. This incredible strength allows them to easily crunch through the tough shells of sea turtles and other hard prey.
Major Fact: A what?
- Tiger sharks are known for their eat first, ask questions later approach to dining.
- Their stomachs have been found containing everything from birds to license plates.
- They have serrated teeth perfect for slicing through turtle shells, bones, and other tough materials.
- This lack of discrimination helps them survive in various environments, making them one of the most adaptable sharks.
- Unlike great whites, they don’t do a single test bite—they commit to the meal no matter what it is
- Which of these were not found in a tiger shark stomach
- Gas can
- Cannon ball
- Suit of armor
- Car tire
- Their eating habits have earned them a reputation as the garbage disposals of the sea.
- This behavior also makes them an important part of ocean clean-up—unfortunately, that includes consuming pollution and non-food items.
- Unlike some sharks, tiger sharks don’t have to keep swimming to stay alive, meaning they can take their time digesting their eclectic meals.
- While dangerous, they aren’t the leading cause of shark attacks—just the leading cause of sharks making questionable dietary decisions.
- 103 recorded attacks and 39 fatalities
- 10 mako
- 354 great whites
- 119 bull attacks 26 fatalities
Ending: So be feared, don’t take a test bite, and try and fit an entire suit of armor in your gullet like the tiger shark here in LDT.