Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark

Galeocerdo cuvier

Size:
to 24 ft

Habitat:
open ocean, also enters rivers and bays at night

Notes:
extremely dangerous

tiger shark teeth

The serrated teeth are designed for sawing chunks from large prey items

If you are going to worry about a shark, let it be this one. Tiger Sharks are big, bold and inquisitive, and frequently come close inshore. They are also remarkably undiscriminating in their eating habits, which makes them even more likely to attack a swimmer, or anything for that matter.

Tiger sharks have the ability to evert ( turn inside-out ) their stomachs, much like starfish. This allows them to 'test' all sorts of food items that would otherwise choke them, like license plates and surfboards.

Tiger Shark
The tiger-stripe markings are readily apparent in this shot.
Tiger Shark
Note that this shark and the one above are both swimming over coral reefs, nowhere near New Jersey!
Tiger Shark
A Tiger shark approaches some floating chum. Note the squared-off muzzle. The green water looks like somewhere in Florida.
Tiger Shark
A Tiger shark swims in the surf off Australia. Habits like this are what make this shark so dangerous. Fortunately for us, Australia is very far from New Jersey.
Tiger shark displaying its bad habits

pilot boat Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook

A harbor pilot is a person who takes control of a seagoing ship when it is entering or leaving port. He is expertly familiar with all the channels, shoals, currents, tides, and regulations of his particular port, and is essential to safely steer the ships in and out. It is an ancient and exclusive profession, often passed down from father to son*. In old days, the top two signal flags at right were used by ships entering and exiting a harbor to call for a pilot, while the bottom flag indicated "pilot on board."

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