Hobbies And Interests
Their Name
Sand tiger sharks obtained their name based on two of the most prominent facts about them: their habitat and their appetite. The "sand" portion of their moniker comes from the habit that these sharks have of spending most of their time in shallow waters close to the shoreline. It was their voracious appetite which led to the "tiger" part of their name.
Other Names
There are a few other names that the sand tiger shark are commonly known by. These names include ground shark, gray nurse shark, spotted ragged-tooth shark and sand shark.
Breathing
All sharks, including the sand tiger shark, have the ability to use gills to breathe underwater. An interesting fact about this particular species, though, is that they are the only sharks that rise up to the surface of the water to take in rapid, large amounts of air. They swallow this air down into their stomachs to make themselves more able to float. While floating, the sharks remain perfectly still as they wait for prey.
Eating
Sand tiger sharks are carnivores. They feed on fish and other creatures found in their natural habitats. Some of the sea dwellers that these sharks eat include lobsters, squid, herring, mackerels, rays, eels and many other varieties of fish. Their appetite is notoriously voracious and "National Geographic" even reports that in some instances these sharks have attacked the nets of fishing ships in the ocean.
Appearance
Sand tiger sharks have a brown and gray color on the top of their body. Underneath, they have a belly that is whitish in color. They can grow to be between 200 and 350 pounds in weight. Full grown adults can reach 6 1/2 to 10 1/2 feet long. They have one row of protruding teeth with sharp points which are visible even when the sharks close their mouths. Their tails are divided into two lobes with the upper lobe being significantly longer than the lower.
Locations
Sand tiger sharks are distributed in waters all around the world where the climate is moderate. They are found in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean stretching from the area around Maine down to the Gulf of Mexico. These sharks swim in waters around South America, the Mediterranean Sea and Africa.
Reproduction
Sand tiger sharks give birth to live offspring called pups. Usually only two pups are born at a time. These young sharks are around 13 pounds and 3 feet long. Immediately after birth, sand tiger shark pups are able to eat on their own and swim.
Predators
Larger sharks present predatory risk to sand tiger sharks -- especially while they are still growing. Once the sharks reach their full adult size, this is generally no longer an issue.
Longevity
In the wild, the average lifespan of sand tiger sharks is 15 years. These sharks do well in captivity and are popular attractions in aquariums. The oldest known shark that was held in captivity lived to the age of 16.
Relationship with People
Even though sand tiger sharks have a menacing appearance, they do not attach human beings unless they are provoked first. Scuba divers are routinely able to get close to these sharks without negative repercussions.