Tiger sharks in the Bahamas
Tiger shark
The tiger shark (*Galeocerdo cuvier*) is a species of ground shark and the only living member of the genus *Galeocerdo*. It is a large predator, with females capable of reaching lengths over 5 meters (16 feet 5 inches). The shark gets its name from the dark stripes along its body, which resemble a tiger’s pattern but fade as the shark matures.
Tiger sharks are mostly solitary and predominantly nocturnal hunters. They are known for having the widest diet among all shark species, feeding on a variety of prey, including crustaceans, fish, seals, birds, squid, turtles, sea snakes, dolphins, and even smaller sharks. Their only recorded natural predator is the orca. Due to threats such as finning and fishing by humans, the tiger shark is considered a near-threatened species.
Relationship with Humans
Though shark attacks on humans are rare, the tiger shark is regarded as one of the most dangerous shark species. They are attracted to many activities humans engage in on or near the water, including sounds, scents, vibrations, and electrical signals. This attraction often leads them to visit shallow coastal areas, increasing the potential for encounters with humans.
Scuba Diving with Tiger Sharks
Shark handlers will bait and feed the tiger sharks and hammerhead sharks using crates of bait fish specifically for this purpose.
It’s important to keep in mind that while these sharks are cautious, slow-moving, docile, tactical, and smart, they are still large opportunistic feeding fish, and their natural curiosity can lead them to approach divers. Therefore, it’s crucial to maintain eye contact and be attentive, particularly with tiger sharks. If they get too close, gently pushing them away may be necessary.
It’s vital to understand the potential risks associated with shark diving and feeding. Participants must be adults, experienced advanced divers, and accept responsibility for their safety during these dives. Baiting with dead fish attracts the sharks, which increases the risk of injury or death. We limit night dives due to the sharks’ natural nocturnal nature.
Despite the potential risks, many of our guests return from these dives with smiles, excitement, and thrilling stories to tell. It’s an unforgettable experience to witness these fascinating creatures up close and personal.
Please read our release forms here: Standard Release and Shark Diving Release.
Tiger Beach, Bahamas
Tiger Beach is a dive site where experienced divers have the opportunity to observe tiger sharks without the protection of a cage. Through careful and cautious feeding interactions, some individuals have come to see these sharks as intelligent and aware scavengers, rather than as dangerous predators.
Mythology
In Hawaiian culture, tiger sharks are considered sacred ʻaumākua (ancestor spirits). They hold a unique significance as ʻaumakua, revered as family guardians. Tiger sharks are viewed as intelligent and spiritually perceptive entities, serving as messengers that bridge the gap between humans and the divine. This perspective emphasizes the intricate interdependence among plants, animals, elements, and humans, highlighting the importance of honoring and coexisting harmoniously with nature.
Taxonomy
The tiger shark belongs to the order Carcharhiniformes, the most species-rich order of sharks, which includes over 270 species such as catsharks and hammerhead sharks. Members of this order are characterized by features such as a nictitating membrane over the eyes, two dorsal fins, an anal fin, and five gill slits. The tiger shark is the largest member of this order, often referred to as ground sharks. The oldest fossils of the modern tiger shark date back to the Middle Miocene, approximately 13.8 million years ago.
Tiger shark Size
Tiger sharks typically reach an adult length of 3.5 to 4.7 meters (11 to 15 feet) and can weigh between 300 and 900 kilograms (700 to 2,000 pounds). They exhibit sexual dimorphism, with females being larger than males. Mature females often exceed 3.7 meters (12 feet), while mature males are less likely to reach that size. Exceptionally large females can grow over 5 meters (16 feet 5 inches), and the largest males can reach up to 4 meters (13 feet 1 inch). Notably, some large female tiger sharks may weigh over 1,300 kilograms (2,900 pounds). Growth rates of juvenile tiger sharks can vary significantly depending on their habitat, with some growing nearly twice as fast as others.
Among the largest sharks, the tiger shark ranks in average size, coming in just behind the whale shark, basking shark, and great white shark. It is the second-largest predatory shark, after the great white. The great hammerhead, another member of the same taxonomic order as the tiger shark, has similar or even greater average body lengths but is lighter and less bulky. The maximum known weight for a heavily pregnant 4.4-meter (14-foot) long great hammerhead is 580 kilograms (1,280 pounds).
Shark Teeth
Tiger shark teeth are distinctive, featuring very sharp and pronounced serrations along with a unique sideways-pointing tip. This specialized dentition allows them to slice through flesh, bone, and tough substances like turtle shells. Like other sharks, their teeth are continuously replaced throughout their lives by rows of new teeth.
Camouflage
Tiger sharks generally swim slowly, which, combined with their coloration, makes them difficult for prey to detect in most water habitats. They are especially well camouflaged against dark backgrounds. Despite their sluggish appearance, tiger sharks are among the strongest swimmers of the carcharhinid sharks. Dark spots and stripes are most visible in young sharks, fading as the shark matures.
Shark Senses; Smell
The aquatic equivalent of smelling in air is tasting in water. Sharks have a keen sense of smell, located in the short duct between the anterior and posterior nasal openings. Although there is no accurate way for humans to measure the sensitivity of this olfactory sense, it is assumed that sharks can detect extremely faint smells from very far away. This sense may also be used for navigation, mating, and locating food. Sharks can determine the direction of a given scent based on the timing of scent detection in each nostril.
Shark Electrical Senses
Sharks have small pits on their snouts that contain electroreceptors known as the ampullae of Lorenzini. These allow them to detect electric fields, including the weak electrical impulses generated by their prey.
Shark hearing / vibration senses
Sharks possess a sharp sense of hearing and may be able to hear prey from several miles away. A small ear opening on each side of their heads leads directly into the inner ear through a thin channel. The ability to localize sound sources is reduced underwater. Underwater hearing occurs through bone conduction, and localization of sound is primarily achieved through the lateral line.
Lateral line
The lateral line is a highly sensitive sensory organ that extends along the flanks of sharks down most of their length. Its primary role is to detect minute vibrations in the water. The lateral line is similar to the ear and is open to the environment through a series of openings called lateral line pores. Sharks can feel minute movements nearby, detect water currents, and use this sense for navigation, feeding, socializing, and more. This reflects the common origin of the vibration- and sound-detecting organs that are grouped together as the acoustico-lateralis system.
Shark Vision
Sharks do not have movable upper or lower eyelids, but the tiger shark—like other sharks—has a nictitating membrane, a clear eyelid that can cover the eye. A reflective layer behind the tiger shark’s retina, called the tapetum lucidum, allows light-sensing cells a second chance to capture photons, enhancing vision in low-light conditions.
Human understanding
Tiger sharks have excellent eyesight, a powerful sense of smell, and the ability to pick up low-frequency pressure waves and faint electrical signals. This combination enables them to approach prey confidently, even in murky or dark water. While the shark circles, it not only sees and smells but also feels a heartbeat and senses electrical signals in the brain.
Humans can never fully comprehend how sensitive a shark’s senses are. They smell like a dog, hear like a dog through their lateral line, see like a hawk, and can feel electrical currents. While we should strive to understand sharks, we must never underestimate them.
Distribution and Habitat
The tiger shark is commonly found near coastal areas, primarily in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. Its behavior is primarily nomadic, influenced by warmer currents, and it tends to stay closer to the equator during colder months. While it generally prefers deep waters along reefs, it will venture into shallower channels to pursue prey.
Feeding
Tiger sharks are apex predators but are often more opportunistic scavengers. They have a reputation for consuming almost anything, earning them the nickname “garbage can of the sea.” However, they are better characterized as “scavengers of the sea.” Tiger sharks are relatively slow-moving, which means they expend less energy and have a reduced ability to catch live fish or marine mammals. Their broad, heavily calcified jaws and serrated teeth are adapted to consume larger carcasses of dead or dying animals. They find it much more challenging to catch live prey compared to great white sharks, makos, great hammerheads, and even lemon sharks. That said, if given an easy opportunity, tiger sharks will eat a wide variety of things. They have a particular affinity for turtles, which are relatively slow in the ocean. Additionally, they often feed on the surface, where most creatures are either dead or dying, including terrestrial animals. This feeding behavior can explain the diverse range of animals found in their stomachs. Large dead or dying marine mammals are a significant meal for tiger sharks.
Tiger shark reproduction
Males reach sexual maturity at lengths of 2.3 to 2.9 meters (7.5 to 9.5 feet), while females mature at lengths of 2.5 to 3.5 meters (8.2 to 11.5 feet). Typically, young sexually mature specimens weigh around 80 to 130 kilograms (180 to 290 pounds). Females mate once every three years through internal fertilization. During mating, the male uses one of his claspers to guide sperm into the female’s genital opening (cloaca) and holds the female in place with his teeth, often leaving her with noticeable scars. Tiger sharks are unique within their family in that their eggs hatch internally, and the young are born live when fully developed. They nourish their young inside the womb, allowing the pups to grow significantly in size, even without a placental connection to the mother. The gestation period lasts up to 16 months, with litters ranging from 10 to 80 pups. A typical newborn measures between 51 and 76 centimeters (20 to 30 inches) in length. The lifespan of tiger sharks is not well documented, but they likely live between 30 to 50 years.
Shark Conservation
Tiger sharks are frequently captured and killed for their fins, flesh, and liver. They are caught in both target and non-target fisheries. Several populations have declined due to heavy fishing pressures, and the continued demand for fins may lead to further declines. As a result, they are considered a near-threatened species due to excessive finning and fishing by humans.
Learn more about individual Tiger sharks of Tiger Beach on our affiliate site, tiger-beach.org