Scientific name:
Galeocerdo cuvier Identification:
Large blunt snout; weel developed cudal keel; dark vertical stripes on body (less conspicuous or absent on adults). Size:
Birth 51-76 cm (20-29.9 inches), maximum length 5.5 m (18.2 ft). Range:
Circumtropical. Depth range from intertidal zone to 305 m (1,007 ft). Biology:
Occurs in a wide range of habitats, from clear waters around coral reefs to turbid estuaries and bays. Eats a wide range of prey, including horseshoe crabs, slipper lobster, conch, squid, demersal bony fishes (goosefishes, walking batfishes, sea robins, lizardfishes, flounders, porcupinefishes, pufferfishes), sharks, skates, rays, and marine mammals (including the endangered Hawaiian monk seal). Feeds more frequently on sea turtles (which are swallowed whole or bitten into smaller pieces), sea snakes and birds (both sea and land species) than any other shark. Appears sluggish, but is capable of fast attacks on prey. Nocturnal, moving into shallower areas at night to feed. Solitary, will aggregate near a rich food source. One of the most dangerous sharks, has attacked divers, surfers, swimmers, and boats. More people die when attacked by the tiger shark than by the white shark and there are several cases whre a single tiger has attacked more than one person. Rarely encountered by divers, bit if a large specimen is spotted one would be best advised to leave the water.