The tiger shark is a thunderstorm of the tropical seas. Dangerous Tiger Shark: description, photo and video, interesting facts Tiger shark weight
15.09.2015 11:41
Many tourists planning a holiday in Bali are concerned about their safety. It has to do with residents. indian ocean which can be dangerous to humans.
The question of the presence of sharks off the coast of Bali is relevant for every tourist who comes here, because the waters of the Indian Ocean, washing the island, are the habitat of many fish. But not all of them pose a danger to people.
The whale shark is the most common among tourists. The basis of her diet is plankton, so you should not be afraid of her. At the same time, it is not recommended to swim too close to her, and especially to her mouth. In the course of its life, this shark absorbs a huge amount of water, so it can accidentally swallow a person swimming nearby. And yet it remains a safe fish. BUT locals can offer you extravagant fishing when a person acts as a bait. This activity is suitable for lovers of extreme sports.
Another herbivorous shark is the coral cat shark. The length of her body is no more than 50-60 centimeters. The color is brown with small darker spots. She was relatively recently seen on the coastal territory of Bali. It was first discovered in 2005 in Jimbaran Bay. FROM predatory fish has nothing in common. The main component of its diet are shrimp-like inhabitants of the ocean, cephalopods And sea worms. People do not attract a cat shark at all, and it itself is unsuitable for human food.
whitetip reef shark
IN coastal waters Bali you can meet the whitetip reef shark. Based on the name, it can be identified precisely by the tips of the white fins. She is the representative gray sharks. Adults can grow up to one and a half, and in the rarest cases, two meters in length.
A meeting with this shark is almost impossible for a tourist, since its usual habitat is water at a depth of about 40 meters, as well as deserted reefs. Crabs, octopuses, as well as all kinds of fish found in these places act as her diet. Attacks on people were extremely rare, and even then only in the case of provocative behavior on the part of a person. Extremely active behavior this predator is caused only by a wounded fish.
The whitetip shark is of particular value to fishermen. Her liver and meat are very tasty, healthy and nutritious. The main habitat of the family of such sharks is the sea depths near Padang Bay and Tepekong.
Off the coast of the small village of Tulamben, vacationers may encounter such a species of shark as the hammerhead fish. This small-sized fish is the owner of an elongated body and a head of a special shape, which was the reason for its name. For humans, it is not dangerous, it is an extremely peaceful species of sharks. Eats small fish and cephalopods.
When planning a vacation in the area of the Bali Islands, you can not be afraid for your life and health, plunging into these waters. There are no predatory species of sharks that could harm vacationers.
Most of them are carnivores, but only a few species are considered serious predators that pose a danger to humans. One such species is the tiger shark. What does this fish look like? Where does she live? We will talk about its features in the article.
Tiger shark: photo, description of appearance
Because of the transverse stripes on the back, they are called "sea tigers". But such a color is present on the body of predators only in young age. Growing up to two meters long, they lose their bright distinctive features and become ordinary gray sharks with pale yellow bellies.
The appearance of these creatures is quite typical. Their body is torpedo-shaped, which tapers towards the tail. The snout of tiger sharks is slightly square, short and blunt. They have a large head with large eyes, behind which are spiracles (gill openings through which water is sucked in and directed to the gills). They have a large mouth with many teeth with beveled tops and serrated edges. They work like blades that cut through the body of the prey.
In terms of size, tiger sharks are one of the major representatives of his class. Adults on average reach 3-4 meters in length. It weighs approximately 400-600 kilograms. largest shark of this species reached 5.5 meters and weighed one and a half tons.
habitats
tiger sharks thermophilic. They prefer shallow waters as well as warm sea currents that they follow during the cold season. Their range covers the seas of the tropical and subtropical zones.
Sharks live off the eastern and western coasts of Australia and America, in the seas of the South and South-East Asia, in the seas throughout East Africa and off the western coast of the Sahara. They were found at a depth of up to 1000 meters, but most often the fish are found near the surface (up to 300 meters) of the ocean or in shallow water. They often come close to the coasts, swim in the estuaries of rivers and marinas.
Predator or trash can?
By nature, tiger sharks are predators, but they can eat anything. Their focus is usually on mollusks, crustaceans, turtles, small and medium-sized fish, small sharks, various pinnipeds and whales. They can even attack birds sitting on the surface of the water.
An interesting feature of this species is its unpretentiousness in food. They can catch other tiger sharks, pick up carrion from seabed, and also there is something that, it would seem, is not intended for this. Clothes, license plates, product packaging, bottles and cans are often found in the stomachs of captured sharks. Sometimes they contain the remains of non-swimming animals, which, most likely, ended up unfortunately near the water.
A keen sense of smell allows them to catch even a small amount of blood in order to immediately go towards the “lunch”. They rarely attack immediately. At first, they circle around the object they are interested in, trying to somehow identify it. Gradually narrow the circle, and then rush to the victim. If the prey is of medium size, then the predator swallows it without chewing.
Lifestyle
Among the entire family of carchariformes, only tiger sharks are ovoviviparous. From the eggs, the cubs hatch right in the mother's body and come out when they grow up. So, they are born already independent individuals, and after about five years they become sexually mature.
Pregnancy lasts up to 16 months, so females form flocks to protect themselves from possible enemies. At other times, tiger sharks are solitary and rarely form groups. Swimming in search of prey, they look huge and clumsy. But this is a misleading impression. Having identified the victim, they reach speeds of up to 20 km / h, easily maneuver and even jump out of the water when necessary. They live for about 40-50 years.
Is it dangerous for humans?
One of the common fears in the ocean is the fear of encountering a shark. And it is quite justified, because it is one of the largest marine predators, "equipped" with powerful jaws and sharp teeth. For humans, the tiger shark is dangerous because it often swims close to the shallows. In addition, she is not too picky about food and, being too hungry, eats literally everything. Among all types of sharks, the tiger shark ranks second in terms of the number of attacks on people.
However, the image of aggressive and murderous predators is greatly exaggerated due to the horrific stories of their victims, as well as popular culture. According to statistics, the chances of dying from their bite is not so much. So, about 3-4 people die from a tiger shark per year. Bees and ants turn out to be much more dangerous - they take the lives of about 30-40 people a year. It is fair to say that there are many more non-fatal shark attacks. Very often they only injure people by biting off individual pieces of meat or body parts.
One way or another, people are not their main target. They can bite if you find yourself in their territory or start to somehow provoke, waving your limbs unnecessarily. They rarely attack calmly swimming divers, but swimmers and surfers floundering in the water are attacked more often, confusing them with a feeding seal or turtle. Other possible reasons hunger, aggression mating season, the smell of blood, as well as simple curiosity. Sometimes they use teeth instead of hands, and with the help of a bite they try to find out what is in front of them.
There are about 360 species of sharks in the world, but not all of them, but only a small part of them, pose a serious danger to people. , tiger, blunt-nosed and sharks - these are the four most dangerous sharks, whose attacks on people most often end fatal.
Today we will talk about the tiger shark, which, according to the statistics of attacks on humans, ranks second. The honorable first place belongs to the inimitable white shark.
The tiger shark is more common than other species in tropical and subtropical waters. You won't know where you'll meet her. This can happen both in the open ocean and ten meters from the coast. The latter primarily concerns the coasts and islands of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Senegal, New Guinea, Australia and Samoa. The reason for such "impudence" of tiger sharks is the search for food. Because of this, they can also swim in small bays and riverbeds.
Habitat of the tiger shark 
The tiger shark got its name from the dark stripes and spots that cover the back and sides of young sharks. After reaching the age of two, these stripes begin to gradually disappear. Unless they can hold out a little longer on the caudal peduncle.
In adults, the back is colored gray or brownish, the belly and sides are lighter. Average length sharks is 5 meters, they say that there are specimens up to 9 meters. Their weight exceeds half a ton and can reach 750 kilograms.
The pride of the tiger shark is the jaw with sharp teeth. In shape, they resemble a sickle sharpened on both sides, whose edges are strewn with hundreds of sharp notches. This is the perfect weapon for killing and butchering. The upper jaw is not much different from the lower one, so any prey is in the teeth of sharks, even a turtle shell or some kind of tin can.
Tiger shark at the time of the attack These sharks are very picky eaters. Not without reason the glory of "scavengers of the seas" was fixed behind them. What was not found in the stomachs of the caught sharks: tin cans, boots, beer bottles, deer horns, various leather goods, i.e. rubbish that shouldn't be in the stomach of a self-respecting shark.
Jagged teeth of a tiger shark Its menu can be called very diverse. These are dolphins, turtles, sea snakes, various shellfish, bird, big fish etc. They will not give up on smaller relatives, and sometimes they attack large individuals caught in the net. Does not disdain carrion and various garbage.
By nature, tiger sharks are loners. Groups gather only when there is enough food. In search of her, they swim great distances.
Though most of their time, tiger sharks tirelessly plow the sea in search of food, they still take small breaks during the breeding season.
These are ovoviviparous fish, i.e. cubs in the womb develop in eggs, and when the time of birth approaches, they are released from their egg capsules and sharks ready for independent life are born.
This species of sharks is quite prolific, maybe this is the reason for their largest number and vast territory of distribution. On average, the female at a time brings from 20 to 50 cubs about 30-40 centimeters long.
According to statistics, an average of 3-4 people die from the teeth of a tiger shark per year. But there are many more attacks, just not all of them are fatal. Despite their apparent slowness and sluggishness, these sharks can gain decent speed in a matter of seconds and make an attack. The victim has little chance of getting away.
flock of sharks 11 years ago (in 2000), the authorities of the island of Maui, as a result of the appearance of a large tiger shark on the coast, were forced to close central beach. For 2 years of trying to catch her, she killed 7 people and 12 more were crippled.
Having met with a tiger shark in the sea or ocean, the chances of escaping from it unharmed are not so high. Give actionable advice what to do in this situation is very difficult. But there are a few rules that will minimize the possibility of meeting this shark:
1. Do not enter the water with bleeding wounds and abrasions on the body, even if they are minor. This also applies to women during menstruation.
2. If while swimming you meet the remains of any animals, be aware that tiger sharks are already swimming somewhere nearby, so stay away from such places.
3. Don't swim early in the morning and at night. It is at this time of day that sharks come out to hunt.
The tiger shark is in the "honorable" third place on the list of ten that it is highly undesirable for any of us to meet. The second name of this species is leopard shark. In the fish system, its place is determined as follows: the gray shark family (Carcharhinidae) in the order Carcharhiniformes in the class cartilaginous fish. The scientific Latin name for this shark is Galeocerdo cuvier.
The genus name is related to the Greek word "galeos" (γαλεός), which means "shark". And the name of the species "cuvier" - on behalf of the famous French naturalist, whose name is Georges Leopold Cuvier.
Distribution and other features of the tiger shark
The tiger shark, one of them, has a vast distribution area: almost the entire World Ocean in tropical and subtropical regions (both in the open ocean and off the coasts). central part Pacific Ocean- the place where these sharks are most often found. Active at night.
Appearance and name
The name "tiger shark" is associated with a characteristic color. In young individuals that have not reached a length of two meters, there are clearly visible dark transverse stripes on the sides, resembling a tiger pattern. At a young age, the stripes serve as camouflage, masking young sharks from their larger relatives.
What does a tiger shark look like as an adult?
The coloration of the upper body of adults can be of varying intensity of gray shades with blurry darker gray spots. These are the remains of faded and faded stripes that adorned the sides and backs of young sharks.
The ventral side of the body of the tiger shark, like all pelagic species, is lighter than the dorsal side: off-white shades. Watch a video about a tiger shark:
It is believed that the name “tiger shark” captures its cruel nature, because it is one of the deadliest sharks in the oceans.
In the front part of the body of sharks of this species is thicker, narrows in the belly area, and rather thin in the tail part. Take a close look at the photo of the tiger shark and you will see these features of its structure.
This shark has a large head and large eyes. Due to the wedge shape, the head is very mobile, and the shark can easily turn it right and left without difficulty. The tiger shark has a blunt and short snout, with a huge mouth that has powerful and strong jaw muscles. In the video about the tiger shark, you can see its mouth.
Uniqueness of teeth
Of particular note is the teeth of this terrible predator, they are not like the teeth of other sharks. You can even admire them if you just look at the photo of a tiger shark - its teeth.
What are the features of the structure of teeth:
- the width of the base of the tooth is greater than its length (height);
- they are sharp and large, and the edges are roughly serrated;
- each notch has even smaller notches along the edges;
- the outer edge has an inward slope of about 45 degrees;
- the size and shape of the lower and upper teeth are approximately the same;
- Only the first 2 rows of teeth work.
An interesting fact: within ten years, approximately 24,000 teeth grow, are used and discarded in one individual.
What advantages does a tiger shark have with such uniquely arranged teeth and strong jaw muscles?
- IN literally not only soft tissues are cut, but also the bones of the victims.
- Shells break very easily sea turtles.
Dimensions
After getting acquainted with the tool for capturing prey (uniquely arranged teeth), the question arises: “What is the size of a tiger shark?” Being one of largest species sharks of the oceans, they have big sizes. The largest individual of this species, recorded by the Guinness Book of Records, was a female (pregnant) 550 centimeters long and weighing almost 1.5 tons. She was caught near Australia.
According to unconfirmed information maximum size The tiger shark is designated by the numbers 632 cm, 740 and 910 cm.
On average, their length is usually in the range from 325 cm to 425 cm, while their weight is from 350 kg to 635 kg. Sometimes there are larger individuals: males are 450 cm long, and females - 500 cm.
Food and hunting
Watching what a tiger shark looks like, it seems that it is clumsy due to its large physique. But despite this physique, she is an excellent swimmer among the sharks of the Karhariformes order.
When slowly patrolling the territory, it is characterized by low speed, while the fish makes barely noticeable movements. But as soon as the shark smells prey, it changes and becomes very fast. Attacking, she instantly "transitions" to high speed.
How does a tiger shark find its prey, because it hunts even in the dark? Here are the fixtures:
- On its snout there are enlarged pores of electroreceptors, thanks to which it captures the most minimal changes in the surrounding electric field.
- The lateral line, located along the sides of the body, captures the minimum vibrations of the surrounding water area.
Tiger sharks hunt at night and alone. They swim far from the shore and rise closer to the surface. They can only compete for food combed crocodiles. Killer whales can attack tiger sharks.
This type of shark is very gluttonous and illegible in food. She eats everything.
- crustaceans (lobsters and crabs);
- mollusks (gastropods, bivalves, cephalopods);
- different types of fish, even stingrays and other sharks (grey-blue, the maximum length of which is 250 cm);
- marine mammals (seals, dugongs, sea lions, bottlenose dolphins and some others);
- sea turtles, even such large ones: green, leathery and loggerhead (she eats them out of a strong shell).
Despite the variety of menus, the diet of tiger sharks is based on small animals. Opening the stomach big sharks of this species, relatively small fish (20 cm long) were found.
The tiger shark has a very acute sense of smell, which makes it possible for it to catch minimal traces of blood. Perceiving sound waves low frequencies, she confidently finds her prey and in muddy water. Then it begins to circle around the prey and explore it, pushing with its snout. Often the victim is swallowed whole.
A lot of different things were removed from the stomachs of tiger sharks: tin cans, shoes, beer bottles, the remains of dogs and cats, car tires, canisters and many other unexpected items.
This is evidence that sharks are completely illegible in relation to food and can swallow everything.
reproduction
The ability to reproduce occurs in males that have reached a length of 2 - 2.9 meters. Sexually mature females are somewhat larger: 2.5-3.5 m in length. Offspring are born every two years on the third. The mating process is traumatic for the female, as the male often inflicts wounds on her, holding her with his teeth.
The tiger shark is an ovoviviparous species. Pregnancy continues more than a year(up to 16 months). The number of babies in the litter is 10-80 individuals, from half a meter to 76 cm in length. After birth, a born shark cub does not receive any care from the mother and is forced to independently ensure its own safety.
The tiger shark, with its sharp teeth, powerful jaws and voracious appetite, has long aroused in us a curiosity mixed with overwhelming fears, but justified.
Tiger sharks are better than many adapted to survive in underwater world. They are found in abundance in warm seas off the coast of the Americas and Africa. Australia and Oceania, and the most "enterprising" predators have been seen more than once in the English Channel and the cold waters of Iceland.
Being excellent swimmers, tiger sharks cover great distances in search of prey, feeling at ease both in shallow water and in estuaries. and on great depths which makes them particularly dangerous to humans.
Some eyewitnesses claim that they saw 9-meter tiger sharks, but, as a rule, their length rarely exceeds 6 m. They got their formidable name not so much for bloodthirstiness, but for striped, like a tiger, marks on the body of young individuals, which, according to gradually disappear with age.
The family of gray sharks, to which the tiger sharks belong, unites 48 species, including the blunt and great blue sharks. In turn, this family is included in the order of carcharine sharks, which live in many seas and oceans and pose the greatest danger to humans.
Like all its relatives, the tiger shark is a vertebrate animal. however, its skeleton does not consist of bone tissue, as in many fish, but of strong cartilage, much lighter and more flexible than bones.
The tiger shark glides smoothly in the water at the very bottom. In a labyrinth of algae-covered stones, it is easy to hide and unexpectedly ambush an unsuspecting victim.
The shark breathes with gills located on the sides of the head.
Streamlining and balance
An encounter with a huge, torpedo-like tiger shark does not bode well. Her slender body effortlessly glides in the water column, driven by the smooth curves of a powerful tail. Pectoral fins located on the belly, high dorsal and powerful caudal fins help maintain balance when moving. Wagging its tail from side to side, it swims forward, changing the speed and direction of movement with the help of its fins. The toothed scales of the tiger shark are smaller and lighter than the scales of other inhabitants. sea depths, which gives her a huge speed advantage.Undemanding in the choice of menu, the tiger shark always finds something to profit from. If some giant sharks(for example, whale) feed only on plankton (the smallest plants and animals), then the omnivorous tiger shark without hesitation devours everything that turns up - from crabs and lobsters to fish, small sharks, poisonous rays, sea turtles and even sea lions. From her formidable jaws, neither a seagull crouching on the water, nor a crocodile swimming in the mouth of the river will be healthy. Even a fish-ball, capable of destroying any predator, the tiger shark calmly devours without any harm to itself. (The size of the fish-ball is not more than 30 cm, but in case of danger it swells up, becoming twice as large as usual, and many marine predators die of suffocation, choking on this dangerous prey.)
sea scavenger
For the habit of devouring everything indiscriminately, tiger sharks are often called sea scavengers. Entire flocks of tiger sharks are on duty off the coast of many tropical cities, picking up any garbage, including bags and cardboard boxes.Following the example of other large relatives, the tiger shark hunts alone, relying entirely on its senses.
A female tiger shark has just caught a fish (the tail of the prey is still sticking out of her mouth). Cruising tirelessly in shallow coastal waters, these predators will always find something to profit from.
Keen hearing picks up the convulsive movements of a wounded fish, and pressure receptors in the ears and along the lateral line respond to the vibrations of the water emanating from a potential prey. The shark has an excellent sense of smell, distinguishing the smell of blood from afar, and excellent eyesight. Finally, nature endowed her with the unique ability to perceive the insignificant electrical impulses emitted by the nerves of animals. For these purposes, it serves as a kind of "radar", located at the tip of the snout.
Before rushing to the attack, the shark circles around the future prey for some time. Before the throw, the predator covers its eyes with a thin transparent film, and its gills sharply draw in water in order to push it out at the right moment and create additional acceleration. Having overtaken the victim, the shark snatches off a huge piece with teeth as sharp as a saw and swims to the side, waiting for it to weaken. This manner of hunting largely explains why the tiger shark is so dangerous to humans. If a wounded swimmer flounders in the water, bleeding, the shark will instantly appear and will not let him out alive.
A newborn baby tiger shark is more likely to survive than many of its relatives, since it develops in the mother's body. Typically, a female tiger shark produces from 10 to 84 cubs (30-50 on average). After mating, the sperm can be stored in the posterior part of the oviducts of the expectant mother for about a year. Mature eggs leave the ovaries and descend into the oviduct, where they are fertilized. The development of the embryos in the mother's body lasts about ten months. Each embryo is in a separate capsule of a substance similar to transparent plastic, and in the process of growth it feeds on the yolk of its egg.
Ready for birth, sharks (about 0.5 m long) break the walls of their capsules, go out through the birth canal and set off in search of food. From that moment on, the mother considers her mission accomplished and in the future does not care about her offspring, so many cubs become victims of other marine life.
Representing a serious danger to humans, tiger sharks, however, are the object of commercial and sport fishing. Leather is made from their skins, and the fat is used as fuel. Considerable damage is done to sharks and people's attempts to protect themselves from their sharp teeth. Many predators die of suffocation, entangled in net barriers, which are often exhibited on the beaches of Australia and South Africa to protect swimmers.