Fish · GBIF taxon 2420766
Sand Tiger Shark
Carcharias taurusAlso known as Spotted Ragged-Tooth Shark, Grey Nurse Shark, Blue-Nurse Sand Tiger
Sand tiger sharks are easily identified by their bulky bodies, reddish-brown spots, and needle-like teeth that project prominently even when their mouths are closed. Unique among sharks, they gulp air at the surface and hold it in their stomachs to achieve neutral buoyancy, allowing them to float motionless in search of prey. Intrauterine cannibalism occurs during reproduction, where the strongest embryo inside each uterus consumes its siblings before birth.
CoastalReef DwellerNocturnal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Critically EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXCritically EndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Bony Fish
- Rays
- Smaller Sharks
Predators
- Great White Shark
- Bull Shark
- Orca
ThreatsCommercial bycatch, overfishing, shark finning, slow reproductive rate
HabitatsSubtropical and temperate coastal waters, rocky reefs, wrecks, sandy bays
Life spanUp to 30 to 40 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLamniformes
- FamilyOdontaspididae
- GenusCarcharias
- SpeciesCarcharias taurus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Large and toothy but generally docile; keep a respectful distance and avoid provoking or cornering them.
- Why it is dangerous
- Equipped with multiple rows of slender, pointed teeth capable of causing severe lacerations if the shark feels threatened.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by a heavy reddish-brown or grey body with scattered darker spots, two equal-sized dorsal fins, and protruding needle-like teeth.
- What to do
- Never attempt to touch, corner, or feed these sharks while diving or swimming, and give them a clear exit path at all times.
- What to notice
- Look for brown or grey coloration with dark spots along the back and a heavy-bodied profile near reefs and shipwrecks.
- Support conservation
- Adhere strictly to local marine protected area regulations and support sustainable fishing practices that reduce shark bycatch.
Responsible observation
- Diving Etiquette: Maintain neutral buoyancy and give sharks space near wrecks or overhangs without blocking escape routes.
- Observation: Look for their distinctive hovering behavior achieved by gulping air at the ocean surface.
Distant Namesake (c) Kris-Mikael Krister, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Predator "Great White Shark" by Elias Levy is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Prey (c) Pauline Walsh Jacobson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Pauline Walsh Jacobson · cc-by
Close Relative (c) NOAA Photo Library, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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