Shark
Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
A large, powerful shark of KZN's warm waters, its grey flanks barred like a tiger in younger fish.
Also known as shark tiger, tierhaai
- Typical size
- Commonly 3-4.5 m
- Habitat
- Warm inshore reefs, surf and open water
- Depth
- Surface to about 150 m
The tiger shark is a heavy-bodied apex predator with a broad, blunt snout, a large mouth and distinctive tiger-like vertical bars along the grey flanks that fade with age. Its serrated, cockscomb-shaped teeth can shear through turtle shell, and it is one of the largest predatory sharks in South African waters.
It is most common along the warm KwaZulu-Natal coast, ranging from inshore reefs and surf to open water, and is an opportunistic feeder taking fish, rays, turtles and carrion. Large tigers command real respect and feature in KZN baited shark dives run by operators; divers should only encounter them under experienced supervision. Slow to mature, the species is globally near-threatened and worth protecting.