They look ferocious, but sand tiger sharks are not dangerous to humans.
These sharks use their sharp teeth to catch small fishes, squid, crabs and lobster.

Size  4-10 feet long

Diet  Fishes, squid, crabs and lobster

Lifespan  15 years or more

Range  Temperate and tropical oceans worldwide

Habitat  Sand tiger sharks frequent habitats from 6-600 feet deep, including
the surf zone, coral and rocky reefs, and the ocean floor.

Predators  Young sand tiger sharks may be preyed on by larger sharks, but
adults have virtually no predators other than humans.

Relatives  There are more than 400 species of sharks, and only a few are dangerous
to humans. Sharks are closely related to skates and rays.

Family life  Baby sand tiger sharks develop within eggs that are carried and hatch in their mother’s uterus. The largest hatchling in each uterus eats the unhatched eggs and smaller embryos. As a result, each female gives birth to just two offspring, one for each uterus. The pups are born after 8-9 months, and then take about 4-6 years to reach breeding age. Shark populations recover slowly from overfishing, partly due to this slow growth rate.

Conservation status  Vulnerable  Sand tiger sharks are vulnerable, which means they are facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. Millions of sharks are killed every year for their fins, cartilage, teeth or jaws.

Explore other profiles   Check out North Atlantic right whales, moon jellies and African penguins.