Location and eating habits of the Tiger Sharks.

Tiger sharks can be found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world, often near to the coast. They stay closer to the equator in colder months and use warmer currents as guidance. Prey can be pursued into shallow waters, but they tend to stay in deep waters that line reefs. On average, the Tiger shark is recorded at around depths of 350 meters (1100 ft), although they have been recorded at a depth of near 900 meters (3000 ft). They are uncommonly seen in shallow waters.

As an apex predator, the Tiger shark will eat almost anything. At a younger age, they feed mostly on molluscs, smaller fish and certain jellyfish. There is a considerable expansion in their food selection when they reach sexual maturity. They will now prey on dolphins, dugongs, seals and the larger sea turtles. Even other large sharks, including other Tiger sharks, are preyed upon. They have been documented feeding alongside Great White sharks, on ailing, injured or dead whales. Because they are aggressive and indiscriminate in their feeding style, inedible objects often get eaten too, including vehicle license plates and tin cans.

The Tiger shark generally grows up to a length of 3.25 – 4.25 meters (10 ft 8 in – 13 ft 11 in). A few very large females have been recorded at a length of 5 m (16 ft 5 in). They reach a weight of about 385 – 635 kg (849 – 1400 lb). Tiger sharks are ranked in average size, only behind the Great White shark and the hale shark. Internal fertilization is used in breeding, with females mating once every 3 years. The gestation period is up to 16 months. The eggs hatch internally, and the pups are born alive. Litters can range anywhere from 10 – 80 pups at a time. The longevity of Tiger sharks is unknown, but it is longer than 12 years.

Tiger shark status is Near Threatened, due to human fishing and “finning”. Continued fishing will certainly make the numbers decline in the future. While there are very few nutrients present in shark fins, there is a high content of vitamin A present in the liver, which is used to produce vitamin oils. The distinct skin of the Tiger shark is another attraction to big game fishermen. They are reportedly responsible for a large share of fatal bite incidents on humans, ranking second only to the Great White shark. They are thus considered one of the most dangerous sharks to humans. In order to protect the tourism industry, more than 4600 Tiger sharks were culled from 1959 to 2000. This proved ineffective in decreasing interactions between humans and Tiger sharks.