Saturday, 12 January 2013

Tiger Shark Information

Source (google.com.pk)
Tiger Shark Information Biography

Class: Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous fish)
Sub class: Elasmobranchii (Sharks and rays)
Order: Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks)
Family: Carcharhinidae (Requiem sharks)
Genus: Galeocerdo cuvieri (Tiger shark)

The Tiger shark is a relatively common resident along our east coast and has the distinct features of a requiem shark. It has a short, blunt snout, long upper labial furrows, and a big mouth with large, saw-edged, cockscomb-shaped teeth. Spiracles present. The Tiger shark has a dark grey colour with vertical tiger-stripe markings that can fade or be obsolete in adults. It's average size is about 400cm to 650cm with a maximum length of about 800cm. This species lives worldwide in coastal and pelagic waters ranging from the surface to a depth of 140m (up to 350m). It has a wide tolerance for different marine habitats, but seems to prefer turbid waters, occuring on or adjacent to the continental and insular shelves. It is often found in river estuaries, close inshore and in coral atolls and lagoons. Tiger sharks are nocturnal and shows cycles of inshore movement at night and retreat to deeper water during daytime. Tiger sharks are mainly solitary.
Probably the biggest variety of food of all sharks. They feed on fishes, sharks, turtles, birds, invertebrates and even garbage. Such a wide spectrum has often been interpreted as being an unspecialized feeder. However this could reflect a highly specialized adaptation to their biology. Tiger sharks are one of the largest sharks of all and need a lot of food. Their uniquely shaped teeth are highly evolved and therefore allow them to feed on different food items, preventing potential food shortages that could arise with selective feeding. As it has such a large variety of food it might be considered potentially dangerous to humans althoug it is more likelly to feed on humans already dead from other causes.

Reproduction is ovoviviparous with between 10 and 80 pups per litter, during summer. The size of pups at birth is between 50cm and 75cm. The pups are very slender and look different than the adults, different markings are present too.This large omnivorous shark is common world-wide in tropical and warm-temperate coastal waters. It is a relatively fast growing and fecund species, and caught regularly in target and non-target fisheries. There is evidence of declines for several populations where they have been heavily fished. Continued demand, especially for the valuable fins, may result in further declines in the future but this species can withstand a higher level of fishing activity than many other species of shark. Additionally, juvenile survivorship increases where adult tiger shark populations have been depleted by fisheries and predation of young is lessened.

Tiger Shark Information
Tiger Shark Information
Tiger Shark Information
Tiger Shark Information
Tiger Shark Information
Tiger Shark Information
Tiger Shark Information
Tiger Shark Information
Tiger Shark Information
Tiger Shark Information
Tiger Shark Information
 
 

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