About Galeocerdo cuvier (Péron & Lesueur, 1822)
The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) commonly reaches an adult length of 3.5 to 4.7 m (11 ft 6 in – 15 ft 5 in) and a weight between 300 and 900 kg (700 and 2,000 lb). The International Game Fish Association's all-tackle record for the species is 810 kg (1,790 lb). This shark exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females growing larger than males. Mature females are often over 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in) long, while mature males rarely reach that size. Exceptionally large females have been reported to measure over 5 m (16 ft 5 in), and the largest males reach 4 m (13 ft 1 in). Weights of particularly large female tiger sharks can exceed 1,300 kg (2,900 lb). One pregnant female caught off Australia was reportedly 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in) long and weighed 1,524 kg (3,360 lb). Even larger unconfirmed catches have been claimed. Some papers have accepted a record of an exceptional 7.4-metre (24 ft 3 in), 3,110-kilogram (6,860 lb) tiger shark, but verification is needed for this claim, as it is far larger than any scientifically observed specimen. A 2019 study suggested that Pliocene tiger sharks could reach a maximum length of 8 m (26 ft). Juvenile tiger sharks show variation in growth rate depending on their inhabited region, with some growing almost twice as fast as others. Among the largest living sharks, the tiger shark ranks fourth in average size, behind only the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), the basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus), and the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). This makes the tiger shark the second-largest predatory shark, after the great white. Several other shark species including megamouth sharks (Megachasma pelagios), Pacific sleeper sharks (Somniosus pacificus), Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus), and bluntnose sixgill sharks (Hexanchus griseus) have a size range that broadly overlaps with that of the tiger shark. However, these species are comparatively poorly studied, so it is unclear whether their typical mature size matches that of the tiger shark. The great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran), which belongs to the same taxonomic order as the tiger shark, has a similar or even greater average body length, but is lighter and less bulky. The maximum known weight for a great hammerhead comes from a heavily pregnant 4.4 m (14 ft) long individual that weighed 580 kg (1,280 lb). Tiger shark teeth are unique, with very sharp, pronounced serrations and a distinct sideways-pointing tip. This tooth structure evolved to slice through flesh, bone, and other tough substances such as turtle shells. Like most sharks, the tiger shark continually replaces its teeth with new teeth from growing rows throughout its life. Relative to the shark's body size, tiger shark teeth are considerably shorter than those of the great white shark, but they are nearly as broad at the root as great white teeth and are arguably better suited to slicing through hard-surfaced prey. A tiger shark generally has long fins that provide lift as it maneuvers through water, while its long upper tail generates bursts of speed. The tiger shark normally swims using small body movements. The tiger shark is often found close to coasts, and lives mainly in tropical and subtropical waters across the globe. It is primarily a nomadic species, with movement guided by warmer currents, and stays closer to the equator during colder months. It tends to remain in deep waters along reefs, but does move into channels to pursue prey in shallower waters. In the western Pacific Ocean, the tiger shark has been found as far north as Japan and as far south as New Zealand. It has also been rarely recorded in the Mediterranean Sea, off Malaga (Spain), Sicily (Italy), and Libya. Tiger sharks can be found in the Gulf of Mexico, along North American beaches, and in parts of South America. They are also commonly observed in the Caribbean Sea. Other locations where tiger sharks are sighted include off the coasts of Africa, China, India, Australia, and Indonesia. Individual tiger sharks have been recorded at depths just under 900 m (3,000 ft). Males reach sexual maturity at a length of 2.3 to 2.9 m (7.5 to 9.5 ft), while females reach sexual maturity at 2.5 to 3.5 m (8.2 to 11.5 ft). Relatively young sexually mature specimens, which often make up the majority of tiger sharks encountered during game-fishing and scientific studies locally, typically weigh around 80 to 130 kg (180 to 290 lb). Females mate once every three years.
