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 protrude 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 (2.0-3.2 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 east to Japan, Korea and Australia. Absent from the Eastern Pacific.
• Found in shoreline habitats to depths of about 625 feet (190 m).

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

www.fishbase.org

www.marinebio.com

www.animals.nationalgeographic.com

www.aqua.org/animals-sandtigershark

• 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.

• http://www.oregonzoo.org
• http://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/ReptilesAmphibians
• http://www.oaklandzoo.org
• http://animalsdiveristy.ummz.edu