Tiger Sharks Research Paper

In the animal kingdom, there are millions of organisms that come in many different forms and classifications. Most animals, some more than others, come in multitudinous forms that include not only species but physical attributes, habitat, and many other characteristics. That being said, what is the most diverse animal? Well, that question is impossible to answer due to the fact that not every single animal specie has been discovered yet. But of the approximately 8.7 million that have been discovered, which is most diverse? Due to their various diets, locations, physical features, and human affiliations of their different species, sharks are arguably the most diverse creature known to man.
One of the many interesting species of shark is the …show more content…
They are large and aggressive and, unlike the Mako shark, have many reports of attacking humans. After great whites, tiger sharks have the highest number of reported human attacks. This shows that human and tiger shark encounters are often very deadly, but these fish are not always the culprit. Due to the high amount of vitamin A in their fins, flesh, and skin, tiger sharks are highly demanded in the sea poaching community (skerry). Sometimes they will be captured then have their fins removed and then returned back into the water to die. So although tiger sharks do kill humans, humans kill them at much higher quantities. Tiger sharks, like most others, do hunt and kill their prey; but they are often known to be scavengers. Their diet typically consists of a variety of fish, smaller sharks, and turtles. Tiger sharks prefer warm water so they are typically found in tropical and sub-tropical waters closer to the equator and mostly on the southern hemisphere. The origin of the tiger shark’s name is fairly obvious. They have light, faint stripes that run vertically down their body, similar to that of a tiger. Tiger sharks can grow up to sixteen feet and, on average, weight approximately 1,800 lbs (as cited on sharksider). They are large, aggressive, striped, and dangerous; the tiger shark is a very appropriate name for these …show more content…
They are a generally basic looking fish. Their bottom side is white and their top or dorsal area is usually dark grey or bronze; and of course the tip of their nose is usually white or can be silver. Although they are born small, at about two feet long, by the end of their life they can be up to an impressive ten feet (Levine). The shape of the white-tip’s teeth makes them incredibly dangerous. Their teeth are shaped like triangles with sharp and jagged edges used for tearing apart the flesh of their prey. These sharks are mostly nocturnal hunters. They dwell around reefs which makes crustaceans, eels, and octopus their main meal. These reef lurking sharks are found all around the Indo-Pacific region. They can sometimes be found in groups near sandy flats, lagoons, or deep drop offs (as cited in sharksider). Although sometimes scary to swimmers and divers, these sharks rarely pose any threat to humans. People usually only get bitten when they are spear fishing, for another fish, and the unknowing white-tip reef shark goes after their

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