A Tiger Shark Is A Solitary Swimmer

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The name, tiger shark, comes from the stripes on its dark back. These disappear as the shark matures. The belly is off white to pale yellow.

The body is thick and the snout is blunt. This shark has a gill slit called a spiracle behind its eyes that improves vision by providing oxygen directly to the eyes and brain. This is useful to this night hunter.

As the teeth wear out, they are continuously replaced. This process continues over the lifetime of the shark. Those razor sharp teeth are so strong that they can sever the back of a sea turtle.

This shark is known to be a very aggressive critter. Humans have been fatally attacked by them frequently. The only shark that exceeds the number of attacks on people is the great white. Many attacks are fatal.

The scientific name is Glaeocerdo Cuvier. It is large enough to attack whales, large sea turtles and sea lions. Weighing approximately 700 kilograms, it reaches a length of about five meters. They often swim close to islands that are home to bird colonies, capturing and feeding on young birds that fly close to the water.

Their habitat includes tropical and sub tropical waters around the world. They are found near the shorelines and out in open waters. They are usually solitary creatures except for mating.

They are slow swimmers except when chasing prey. They can swim in short bursts of speed at that time. Well known for fatal attacks on people, this is not the first choice of food.

Reproduction is classified as ovoviviparous. This means it carries eggs internally and the pups are born alive. Gestation requires one year. They have been known to give birth to between ten an eighty two pups at a time.

At age four to six, the tiger shark is sexually mature. The life span is twelve years, approximately. This is a dangerous creature. When he ventures close to shore, the lifeguards at the beaches call everyone out of the water immediately. They are easily seen in clear waters


About the Author:
Studying sharks has always Cathy Williams's passion for as long as she can remember and has always pondered about the tiger shark.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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