Information on Sand Tiger Sharks

The sand tiger shark, also known as the gray nurse shark or sand tiger, has a frightening appearance because of its ragged teeth. Sand tiger sharks are a brown-gray color with rust colored spots on their backs and white undersides. They live in most warm seas with the exception of the eastern Pacific.

  1. Size

    • Sand tiger sharks are 6 1/2 feet to 10 1/2 feet long. They weigh between 200 and 350 pounds.

    Habitat

    • Sand tiger sharks swim at depths of 6 feet to 626 feet. They tend to stay close to the shoreline, and often swim near the ocean floor in the surf zone.

    Food

    • Sand tiger sharks, which feeds at night, primarily eat small fish. They also will eat squid and crustaceans.

    Danger

    • Sand tiger sharks generally are not a danger to humans unless provoked. They will attack in self-defense. They have attacked people who were spearfishing.

    Protection

    • Sand tiger sharks are a protected species, with a threatened status because of their low reproduction rate. Environmentalists closely monitor the population.