by Amelia Emery

Created on: September 23, 2011   Last Updated: September 26, 2011

Tiger sharks are one of the most feared species of shark that frequent warm and shallow waters near coastlines. Known to attack unprovoked, they only rank second on the number of attacks on humans to Great White sharks. This large and powerful shark is also the cause of the majority of shark attacks in Hawaii.

Tiger sharks can be found in both tropical and temperate waters around the world which includes the coasts of North, Central, and South America, Africa, Australia, Asia as well as the coasts of all islands in the Indian and Pacific oceans. They tend to stay in shallow waters near the coasts but have also been reported to dive as deep as 1,000 feet in search of prey. Tiger sharks have a seasonal migration pattern and will travel long distances to temperate waters during the summer months and then head back into tropical waters at the return of winter.

Known scientifically as Galeocerdo cuvier, the tiger shark is not to be confused with the sandtiger shark (Carcharias taurus) which is smaller and does not attack humans unless it feels threatened. Tiger sharks are named for the striped pattern of bars and spots along their bodies that is especially striking in juveniles. As they age and grow larger, the stripes fade away and the predominant coloring is bluish-gray with a white underside.

Tiger sharks will reach an average length of 10-14 feet long but a few specimens of 17-20 feet have also been found. The weight of tiger sharks is usually from 850-1,400 pounds although weights of up to 2,000 pounds have been reported as well. The combined length and weight of the tiger shark puts it near the top of the list of largest sharks in existence today. The body of the tiger shark is heavy set near the head but becomes more slender and streamlined towards the tail. The fins are thick and triangular in shape. The tail, or caudal fin, is asymmetrically shaped as the upper lobe is long and tapering while the lower lobe is short and serves as a keel. This body design allows the tiger shark to maneuver effortlessly, quickly turn around, and attain bursts of speed of up to 20 miles per hour.

The head of the tiger shark is large and short with a round blunt nose. The teeth of tiger sharks are quite distinct from other species and are easily recognized. Rather than the typical triangular shape, tiger shark teeth are angled to a curved shape and have a notch where the tooth is seemingly bent over. The edges of the teeth are serrated and very sharp, allowing the tiger shark

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