Tiger sharks are the second largest predatory shark and the fourth largest shark in the ocean. Tiger sharks, named after the pattern on their body that fades with age, will eat anything they can sink their teeth into.
Their diet is varied, including fish, rays, smaller sharks, marine mammals and birds that fly too close to the ocean surface. They are also the only shark to eat sea turtles. Let’s dive deeper into what tiger sharks eat and whether they are dangerous to humans!
What do tiger sharks eat?
Tiger sharks are primarily carnivores and they eat a predatory diet, which may include:
- Various fish
- Sting rays
- Smaller sharks (including their own offspring)
- Sea snakes
- Sea turtles
- Seals
- Seabirds
- Squid
- Weak or dead whales
They can also eat dead animals, and garbage dumped into the ocean is also often found in their stomachs. As a new puppy, they eat whatever is within their reach. A 2017 study looked at the stomach contents of a tiger shark and found small antelopes, humpback dolphins, seabirds, African penguins, humpback whale remains, and porcupine fish.
Their research showed that:
- 55% of tiger shark families contained other sharks, rays or rays.
- 51% contained fish with meadow fins
- 40% contained mammals
- 27% kept birds
- 13% contained crustaceans
- 6% contained reptiles
As you can see, tiger sharks eat very much varied food and extremely accommodating!
Some tiger sharks follow a more specialized diet, especially where it is easy to do. For example, the ocean near Hawaii is home to many green turtles and Hawaiian monk seals, and tiger sharks in the area take advantage of this.
However, they usually cannot afford to be picky. If tiger sharks were on a less varied diet, they might stop for too long between meals. This will damage the survival of the species.
Are tiger sharks dangerous to humans?
Tiger sharks are sometimes called “man-eating sharks”. They are aggressive, wild animals. The combination of being at the top of the food chain and wanting to eat anything doesn’t do the people in the ocean any good.
Tiger sharks are the second most aggressive shark among humans after the great white shark. However, this can make them seem like a bigger threat than they really are. Since 1958, there have been 131 attacks on people and 34 people have died. This makes them significantly less dangerous than animals such as a cow.
In truth, sharks often swim around people – and they usually just ignore us!
The odds of being bitten by a dog are much higher than those of a shark, although it’s fair to say that dog bites usually cause much less harm.
How do tiger sharks hunt?
At night, tiger sharks swim closer to the shore, where they find their prey. They sneak up on prey using slow movements and their ability to disguise themselves in dark waters, then attack at great speed.
They can circle their prey or inspect it before eating and are said to be very confident in their hunting prowess!
Their serrated teeth and strong jaws allow them to grip tightly. They eat smaller prey whole, but can eat larger animals in their bites.
What do baby tiger sharks eat?
Small tiger sharks feed on smaller marine life, including fish, jellyfish and shellfish. Their parents never feed them, they are independent of birth.