Tiger shark
Slug: `/species/tiger-shark/` Scientific name: Galeocerdo cuvier
The tiger shark is a large shark of tropical and warm-temperate waters. Younger animals show the dark vertical bars and spots that give the species its common name; those markings can become less obvious with age.
Tiger sharks use a wide range of habitats, including coastal areas and offshore waters, and have a highly varied diet. They are frequently discussed in shark-human interaction literature, particularly in warm-water regions.
A location within tiger-shark range is not enough to identify the species in an incident. Witness descriptions, photographs, bite evidence or specialist investigation may be needed. The database must preserve uncertainty rather than infer a species from geography.
Image: Wikimedia Commons `Tiger_Shark.jpg`, Oregon State University, CC BY-SA 2.0. Sources: WoRMS; NOAA shark-identification material where applicable.
