Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
Silhouette: PhyloPic · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassElasmobranchii
- OrderCarcharhiniformes (Ground Sharks)
- FamilyCarcharhinidae (Requiem Sharks)
- GenusGaleocerdo (Tiger Sharks)
- SpeciesGaleocerdo cuvier (Tiger Shark)
About the Tiger Shark
The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is a species of ground shark, and the only extant member of the genus Galeocerdo and family Galeocerdonidae. It is a large predator, with females capable of attaining a length of over 5 m (16 ft 5 in). Populations are found in many tropical and temperate waters, especially around central Pacific islands. Its name derives from the dark stripes down its body, which resemble a tiger's pattern and fade as the shark matures.
The tiger shark is a solitary, mostly nocturnal hunter. It is notable for having the widest food spectrum of all sharks, with a range of prey that includes crustaceans, fish, seals, birds, squid, octopuses, sea turtles, sea snakes, dolphins, and even smaller sharks. It also has a reputation as a "garbage eater", consuming a variety of inedible, man-made objects that linger in its stomach. Tiger sharks have only one recorded natural predator, the orca. It is considered a near-threatened species because of finning and fishing by humans.
The tiger shark is second only to the great white in recorded fatal attacks on humans, but these events are still exceedingly rare. The shark was first described by Peron and Lesueur in... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Tiger Shark in Galápagos Islands
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Galápagos Islands
Whitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
Requiem shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Galápagos Shark
Carcharhinus galapagensis
Silky Shark
Carcharhinus falciformis
Silvertip Shark
Carcharhinus albimarginatus
Scalloped Hammerhead
Sphyrna lewini
spotted houndshark
Triakis maculata
White-margin Fin Hound Shark
Mustelus albipinnis
Smooth Hammerhead
Sphyrna zygaena
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ningaloo Marine Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Galápagos Islands | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 3 | Isla del Coco National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Tiger Shark in Galápagos Islands?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Tiger Shark sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Tiger Shark in Galápagos Islands?
January has the highest sighting rate for Tiger Shark in Galápagos Islands in our monthly data.