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.