Sand Tiger Shark

• Brownish-gray with rust-colored spots on the back and white underneath. Spots fade as the animal matures.
• Displays a mouthful of sharp teeth that protrudes in all directions, even when the mouth is closed. Despite its menacing appearance, it is a docile and non-aggressive species.
• Narrow, flattened, cone-shaped snout and very small eyes.
• Ranges in length from 6.5 to 10.5 feet (2-3.2 m) and may weigh 200 to 350 lbs. (91-159 kg).

• Diet consists of bony fishes, smaller sharks, rays, squid, crabs and lobsters.

• Occurs in the Western Atlantic from Canada and the Gulf of Maine to Argentina and in the Eastern Atlantic from the Mediterranean to Cameroon. In the Indo-West Pacific from the Red Sea and the South African coast to Japan, Korea and Australia. Absent from the Eastern Pacific.
• Found in shoreline habitats to depths of about 625 feet (191 m).

• The lowest reproductive rate among sharks, giving birth every two years to one or two pups after a gestation period of 9-12 months.
• Ovoviviparous. The embryos are initially nourished by the egg yolk and later consume slower-developing embryos while still in their mother’s uterus.
• Sand tiger shark pups are 3 feet (1 m) long at birth.

• Listed as “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Redlist.

• Only shark species that swims to the surface and swallows air in order to regulate its buoyancy. This enables it to remain motionless at any depth while seeking prey.

www.fishbase.org

www.marinebio.com

www.animals.nationalgeographic.com

www.aqua.org/animals-sandtigershark