Sand Tiger Shark
Sand tiger sharks guard many of the shipwrecks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic, patrolling these artificial reefs in search of fish and invertebrates to eat. Don’t be fooled by their rows of jagged teeth – these large sharks are generally quite docile, and typically swim calmly around divers.
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Carcharias taurus
DIET: Fish, rays, crabs, lobsters, and squid
LENGTH: Average 7 to 9 feet
WEIGHT: 200-350 pounds
LIFE SPAN: Estimated 10-15 years
STATUS: Protected in commercial fisheries under the Atlantic Fishery Management Plan
THREATS: Overfishing
FUN FACT: Sand tiger sharks are unique among sharks in that they often come to the ocean surface to gulp air. They retain this air in their stomach to help them to hover above the ocean floor.