(Peron and Lesueur, 1822); CARCHARHINIDAE
FAMILY; also called leopard shark
Occurs worldwide in tropical and warm
temperate seas, but has been found during
the summer season as far north as
Massachusetts in the western Atlantic and
Iceland in the eastern Atlantic.
The tiger shark can be readily identified by
its cockscomb shaped, serrated teeth, which
are recurvate and deeply notched on the
inner margin. The teeth are the same in both
jaws. The first two of the five gill slits
are above the pectoral fin. There is a long,
prominent keel along either side of the
caudal peduncle. The young
characteristically have very prominent, dark
brown tiger stripes and leopard spots on the
upper body and tail, but adults have less
prominent markings.
It is especially dangerous to man because of
its proneness to attack, and its tendency to
occur in shallow waters where people swim.
It is a sluggish swimmer under normal
conditions, but comes alive in the presence
of food, which considering the objects found
in the stomachs of captured specimens, can
be almost anything. In Australia, and
Florida this shark has been responsible for
many fatal attacks.
It is a hard fighting, highly rated game
fish. Fishing methods include live bait
fishing while chumming from boats or
trolling. Whole or cut fish or scrap meat is
effective. Many tiger sharks have been
caught after attacking fish being played by
anglers.
The tiger shark may give birth to from 10 to
as many as 80 young in one litter. The flesh
is not usually eaten, though it is certainly
edible. Commercially, the hide is used to
make leather, and fishermen use the flesh
and liver for chumming.
