Sea predator: tiger shark

Tiger Shark was not without a reason for such a name. The young individuals on the body clearly see streaks and stains, like a tiger's skin. But in addition to the characteristic coloring, this fish has another similarity to the terrestrial predator of the same name - it is an exceptional cruelty and ruthlessness.

It is the tiger shark that ranks second in the number of deadly attacks on humans. In front of it - only an even more aggressive large white shark.

These predators live in tropical oceans and seas, and they can be met both at great depths and in shallow waters. Tiger sharks have an amazing vision and smell. They are able to recognize vibrations at considerable distances. In short, they have all the qualities for a successful hunt.

Description

Adults can not boast a particularly bright, remarkable color, but thanks to this they perfectly mask themselves. Their body literally merges with the bluish-green color of the water, and only the belly has a yellowish white hue.

The shark tiger basically moves leisurely, but only until the discovery of the prey. Having seen a potential victim, the predator is rapidly accelerated by means of extremely mobile fins and tail.

This fish has a fixed dorsal fin, which serves as the center of gravity. With its help during hunting, a shark can make an almost instantaneous maneuvering turn by 180 degrees.

The tiger shark has a wider mouth than any other species, which is equipped with teeth that are unique in form. Each tooth is like a sickle with sharp jagged edges, which allows the predator to literally sawn its prey to pieces.

The size of the adult is very impressive: from 4 to 5 meters with a weight of up to 900 kg.

Food

Fish sharks are very hungry and absolutely indiscriminate in food. It can eat plankton, eat crabs, lobsters, shellfish, fish, squid, sea turtles and even its smaller counterparts. For example, a case is known when a tiger shark ate another shark caught on the hook of a fishing vessel, but did not ate and grabbed the next bait, while being caught herself.

These predators found in their stomachs not only the remains of birds, crocodiles, sea snakes and dolphins, but also absolutely inedible objects: deer horns, cans, leather wallets, beer bottles and much more. Often, when caught in the stomachs of sharks were human remains. Any carrion and garbage also seem to sharks quite suitable food. For this omnivorousness they were nicknamed sea scavengers.

Although tiger predators and are famous for their insatiability, they, like other representatives of shark, have periods of abstinence from food. Males stop eating during courtship for females, and they start their "fast" during pregnancy.

Reproduction

Usually tiger sharks lead a single way of life and briefly form a pair just for the continuation of their kind. These fish do not spawn, but they bore it in the womb until they hatch and the cubs are born.

The cruelty of sharks is manifested even in the process of mating: the male digs into its dorsal fin its deadly teeth and fertilizes it. Pregnancy lasts a little more than a year - during this time the female bore from 20 to 80 eggs. The shark is born completely independent and leaves the mother almost immediately. Young people try to stay away from adult sharks, so as not to become easy prey for their hungry relatives.

In the first months of their life young people learn to hunt for small fish, swim in the estuaries of large rivers and spend most of the time in shallow water near the barrier reefs. After 3-4 months, sharks already gain enough experience to retire to the open sea.