Tiger Shark, Galeocerdo cuvier

Size:
Max. 700cm.  Mature females 300-550cm, mature males 250-380cm.

Appearance:
A large, 'boxy' looking shark.  Broad, bluntly rounded snout with labial furrows and spiracles present.  Body tapers behind first dorsal fin to a long, slender caudal fin.  Well-developed caudal keel.  Dusky grey coloration with distinct vertical dark bars, less conspicuous in mature specimens. 

Distribution:
Circumtropical.   Wide tolerance of different marine habitats, from coastal to pelagic waters.  Depth ranges from surface waters to 140m

General:
Typically a slow swimmer, capable of short bursts of speed to attack prey.  Usually a solitary animal, occasionally large aggregations seen around food sources.  Found in the clear waters of the coral reef to the murky, turbid estuarine waters.  Moves into the shallow waters at dusk to feed.

Feeding:
Mainly a nocturnal feeder.  Quite possibly has the most varied diet of all sharks.  Known to feed on benthic bony fishes, elasmobranches, sea turtles, invertebrates, birds and even garbage.  Their varied diet has often been referred to as unspecialized feeding, however it could be a biological adaptation.  With their uniquely shaped, saw-blade like teeth allowing them to feed on a wide variety of food items, potential food shortages arising from selective feeding are prevented.

Reproduction:
Aplacental viviparous, no embryonic nourishment from placental structure in mother's uterus.  Gestation period 12-13 months, with between 10 and 80 pups per litter.  Size at birth between 50-75cm.  Pups are very slender with a slow growth rate.

Similar Species:
None.

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