What is a Tiger Shark?
The tiger shark is a large marine predator named for the dark stripes on its body. They are frequently found in tropical and sub-tropical oceans, most notably in the Pacific Ocean. Tiger sharks have a reputation for ferocity and scavenging, and are listed as near threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN.) At birth, a tiger shark is between 20-30 inches (51-76 cm) in length. Adult sharks grow to be 10-25 ft (3.25-7.5 m) long and weigh about 850-1900 lbs (385-900 kg.) As juveniles, the dark, tiger-like stripes are clearly visible, but they tend to fade with age. The tiger shark is believed to live about 50 years in the wild, but consistent hunting of the species makes this data uncertain. The tiger shark is one of the only sharks to be ovoviviparous, meaning its pups are born live. Gestation lasts a little over one year, and typical female will bear between 10-80 pups. The young sharks are independent from birth, and in fact avoid other tiger sharks unti
