# Tiger Shark (*Galeocerdo cuvier*)

> The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is a large predatory shark of warm coastal and open tropical seas, named for the dark vertical bars that mark young animals. It grows to around 3 to 5 m and can weigh up to about 600 kg, swimming steadily on long-distance patrols and reaching bursts of up to 32 km/h (20 mph). An indiscriminate feeder with an extremely varied diet, it typically lives 20 to 30 years and is listed as Near Threatened.

- **Category:** Fish
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Near Threatened
- **Range:** Warm coastal and open waters of tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/tiger-shark/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Chondrichthyes
- **Order:** Carcharhiniformes
- **Family:** Galeocerdidae
- **Genus:** Galeocerdo

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Galeocerdo cuvier |
| Diet | Carnivore (highly varied) |
| Habitat | Warm coastal and open tropical seas |
| Lifespan | 20–30 years |
| Length | 3–5 m (10–16 ft), sometimes larger |
| Top speed | Up to 32 km/h (20 mph) in bursts |
| Conservation status | Near Threatened (IUCN) |

## Appearance and identification

The tiger shark takes its name from the dark vertical stripes along its flanks, boldest in juveniles and fading as the animal matures. It has a broad, blunt snout, a heavy body, and distinctive serrated, cockscomb-shaped teeth that can shear through bone and turtle shell. Adults commonly reach 3 to 5 m, with exceptional individuals larger still, and can weigh up to around 600 kg. Its blue-grey to greenish upper body over a pale belly is typical countershading that hides it from prey above and below.

## Diet and feeding

Tiger sharks have one of the most varied diets of any shark, earning a reputation as the ocean's scavengers. They hunt fish, sea turtles, seabirds, seals, rays, and smaller sharks, and readily take carrion and injured animals. Their strong, serrated teeth let them tackle hard-shelled prey such as turtles that most predators cannot handle. They are also notorious for swallowing indigestible rubbish, and stomach contents have included tyres, licence plates, and other human debris.

## Habitat and range

Tiger sharks live in warm and tropical waters worldwide, from shallow coastal shelves and river mouths to the open ocean. They favour murky inshore waters, reefs, and lagoons, but range widely and undertake long seasonal migrations across thousands of kilometres. Satellite tracking has shown individuals crossing entire ocean basins between feeding and breeding areas. They tend to move into shallower water at night to hunt and retreat to deeper water by day.

## Reproduction and young

Tiger sharks are ovoviviparous: the eggs develop and hatch inside the mother, which then gives birth to live, fully formed pups. Litters are unusually large for a shark, often numbering several dozen and sometimes many more. The young, typically 50 to 75 cm at birth, are independent immediately and receive no parental care. This slow-maturing species takes years to reach breeding age, which makes its populations vulnerable to overfishing.

## Behaviour and movement

Tiger sharks are mostly solitary and cover huge distances with a slow, energy-efficient cruising swim. They are capable of sudden acceleration, reaching bursts of up to 32 km/h (20 mph) when striking at prey. Highly sensitive electroreceptors and a keen sense of smell let them detect struggling or wounded animals from a distance. Largely nocturnal hunters, they patrol tirelessly and investigate almost anything they encounter.

## Conservation and threats

The tiger shark is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, with numbers declining in many regions. It is caught both deliberately and as bycatch, targeted for its fins, skin, liver oil, and flesh, and killed in shark-control programmes near popular beaches. Its late maturity and slow reproduction mean populations recover only slowly once depleted. Reducing targeted fishing and bycatch is central to keeping the species stable.

## Frequently asked questions

### How big do tiger sharks get?

Tiger sharks commonly reach 3 to 5 m in length and can weigh up to around 600 kg, with some individuals growing even larger. This makes them one of the biggest predatory sharks, behind the great white and a handful of others.

### Why is it called a tiger shark?

The name comes from the dark vertical bars or stripes along its sides, which resemble a tiger's markings. These stripes are boldest in young sharks and gradually fade as the animal grows older and larger.

### What do tiger sharks eat?

Tiger sharks are carnivores with an exceptionally varied diet, eating fish, sea turtles, seabirds, seals, rays, and smaller sharks, as well as carrion. Their serrated teeth can crack turtle shells, and they are notorious for swallowing indigestible human litter.

### Are tiger sharks dangerous to humans?

Tiger sharks are among the shark species most often involved in bites on people, partly because they hunt in shallow coastal water and investigate unfamiliar objects. Even so, attacks are rare, and the sharks do not deliberately seek out humans as prey.

### How fast can a tiger shark swim?

Tiger sharks usually cruise slowly to conserve energy but can reach bursts of up to 32 km/h (20 mph) when attacking prey. They rely on stealth and sudden acceleration rather than sustained high-speed chases.

### Are tiger sharks endangered?

Tiger sharks are classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN, meaning they are close to qualifying as threatened. Fishing for their fins and flesh, bycatch, and beach shark-control programmes are the main pressures on their numbers.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Galeocerdo cuvier.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Galeocerdo%20cuvier&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Galeocerdo cuvier. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Galeocerdo_cuvier/)
- [Wikipedia — Tiger Shark.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_shark)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/tiger-shark/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.