Tiger sharks are named for the dark, vertical stripes found mainly on juveniles. As these sharks mature, the lines begin to fade and almost disappear. Picture of a tiger shark VIEW IMAGES So called because of the tiger-like stripes on juveniles, the tiger shark is, like its terrestrial namesake, a voracious hunter. PHOTOGRAPH BY BRIAN J. SKERRY, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE COMMON NAME: Tiger Shark SCIENTIFIC NAME: Galeocerdo cuvier TYPE: Fish DIET: Carnivores GROUP NAME: School, shoal AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 15 or more years SIZE: 10 to 14 ft WEIGHT: 850 to 1,400 lbs SIZE RELATIVE TO A 6-FT MAN: IUCN RED LIST STATUS: ?Near Threatened LC NT VU EN CR EW EX LEAST CONCERNEXTINCT CURRENT POPULATION TREND: Unknown ABOUT THE TIGER SHARK Tiger sharks are named for the dark, vertical stripes found mainly on juveniles. As these sharks mature, the lines begin to fade and almost disappear. Shark Attacks These large, blunt-nosed predators have a duly earned reputation as man-eaters. They are second only to great whites in attacking people. But because they have a near completely undiscerning palate, they are not likely to swim away after biting a human, as great whites frequently do. They are consummate scavengers, with excellent senses of sight and smell and a nearly limitless menu of diet items.