Here's what we know about their food consumption:
* Quantity: It's difficult to give an exact amount of food a tiger shark eats because it varies greatly depending on factors like age, size, sex, and availability of prey.
* Frequency: They can eat multiple times a day, especially when prey is abundant.
* Diet: Their diet includes:
* Fish: A wide variety of fish, including bony fish, sharks, rays, and even other tiger sharks.
* Sea turtles: Tiger sharks are a major predator of sea turtles, often biting off their limbs or flippers.
* Birds: They have been known to eat seabirds, especially when nesting on beaches.
* Marine mammals: They can attack dolphins, seals, and even small whales.
* Carrion: They are scavengers and will eat dead animals they find.
* Invertebrates: Crabs, lobsters, and other invertebrates are also part of their diet.
Factors influencing their food consumption:
* Size: Larger tiger sharks need to consume more food to sustain their energy needs.
* Prey availability: If prey is plentiful, they will eat more frequently and consume larger amounts.
* Reproductive state: Pregnant females may eat more to provide nourishment for their developing pups.
Interesting facts about tiger shark feeding:
* They have powerful jaws and sharp teeth that allow them to crush bones and shells.
* They are often observed with scars and bite marks, indicating fierce competition for food.
* Their digestive system is highly efficient, allowing them to extract maximum nutrients from their prey.
Overall, tiger sharks are opportunistic and voracious eaters, consuming a wide variety of prey in quantities that vary depending on individual factors and environmental conditions.