Animal Spotlight
Sand Tiger Shark
Carcharias taurus
A Shark by Many Other Names
With large, bulky bodies, sharp teeth, and long snouts, sand tiger sharks possess a variety of unique features. Also known as a grey nurse shark, ground shark, spotted ragged tooth shark, and spotted sand tiger shark, they can grow up to 10 feet in length and live between 15-40 years in the wild.
These fascinating sharks have skeletons made of cartilage and use special pores on their faces, called ampullae of Lorenzini, to sense electrical fields. In order to breathe, they must constantly move to circulate water over their gills, and gulp air to help keep themselves buoyant and in better control in the water. Unfortunately, due to fishing, habitat loss, beach meshing, and slow reproductive rates, this species has declined by at least 20% over the last 10 years.
Habitat
Inshore in a variety of areas including the surf zone, shallow bays, coral and rocky reefs and deeper areas around the outer continental shelves
Diet
Small bony fish, eels, mullets, snappers, hakes, porgies, croakers, bonito, remoras, sea robins and sea basses, in addition to rays, squids, crabs, lobsters and other smaller sharks
Predators
Larger sharks for juveniles; none other than humans for mature individuals
Conservation Status
Critically endangered
Phylum
Chordata
Meet the Neighbors
From the southern stingray to the moray eel and beyond, the sand tiger shark shares its habitat with a wide range of other species.
Southern Stingray
Gentle giants with special sensors, or electroreceptors, on their snouts help them find food.
Moray Eel
From a color misconception to a tough reputation, there’s a lot to unlearn about this reclusive species.
Ready to Visit?
Gaze up at giant southern stingrays, sand tiger sharks, sea turtles, and more in our largest habitat, the Coral Reefs.