Animal Profiles
Fish

Tiger Shark

Galeocerdo cuvier

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

The tiger shark is a large warm-water predator with a broad snout and strongly serrated teeth. The dark markings that give it its name are especially conspicuous in young animals.

Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), the representative described here.

Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), the representative described here.

Albert kok · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Galeocerdo cuvier occurs widely in tropical and subtropical seas. It uses coastal habitats, including seagrass areas, estuaries and harbours, but also moves offshore and into deeper water.
Habitat
Coast, Open ocean
Diet
Carnivore
Food
Tiger sharks take many kinds of animal food, including turtles, crustaceans and other marine prey.

Classification

Common name
Tiger Shark
Browse group
Fish
Scientific name or taxon
Galeocerdo cuvier
Taxon rank
species
Order
Carcharhiniformes
Family
Carcharhinidae
Genus
Galeocerdo
Source classification
Chondrichthyes

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • Young animals have strong dark markings.
  • It also scavenges.
  • Its teeth are strongly serrated.

Habitat and range

Galeocerdo cuvier occurs widely in tropical and subtropical seas. It uses coastal habitats, including seagrass areas, estuaries and harbours, but also moves offshore and into deeper water.

Appearance and adaptations

A broad blunt snout and large head give the shark a robust outline. Dark bars or blotches fade with age. The upper tail lobe is longer than the lower one.

Diet and behaviour

Tiger sharks take many kinds of animal food, including turtles, crustaceans and other marine prey. They also scavenge. Individuals are often solitary, although several may gather around a large food source.

Sources

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