Facts about Sand Tiger Shark
- 07
Courting male sand tiger sharks perform elaborate swimming displays and bite females on the pectoral fins to initiate mating, a behavior observed in Mediterranean and Atlantic populations.
- 06
Atlantic populations of sand tiger sharks migrate over 5,600 miles annually between nursery grounds in the western Atlantic and feeding areas off West Africa and Europe.
- 05
Viviparous reproduction in sand tiger sharks results in only two pups per litter, one from each uterus, making them among the lowest reproductive output sharks in the ocean.
- 04
Olfactory organs in sand tiger sharks are so sensitive they can detect a single drop of blood in an Olympic-sized swimming pool from over a mile away.
- 03
Teeth protruding from closed mouths give sand tiger sharks a menacing appearance, though these sharks are actually docile toward humans and rarely attack without provocation.
- 02
Sand tiger sharks can reach lengths of 10 feet and weigh up to 350 pounds, making them among the larger predatory sharks in coastal waters worldwide.
- 01
During embryonic development, sand tiger sharks practice intrauterine cannibalism, with the largest embryo consuming its siblings inside the mother's womb.