Page 185 - (DK) Super Shark Encyclopedia: And Other Creatures of the Deep

DEADLY

SCHOOL

SANDTIGER

SHARK

Sharks gather whenever there is the prospect of food,
but sandtiger sharks often work together to make the
most of a feeding opportunity. A number of sandtigers
swim around a school of fish until it is surrounded. Then
they move in closer so that the prey bunches together.
By the time the sharks dive in for a kill, they are sure to
grab a good mouthful of fish. They also snack on other
sharks and rays that come too close.

AT A GLANCE

• SIZE 9–10½ ft (2.75–3.2 m) long • LOCATION Near coastlines
• HABITAT Warm and tropical around the world, except for
the eastern Pacific Ocean
coastal ocean waters, including
coral reefs and shallow bays • DIET Fish, including smaller sharks
and rays, squid, crabs, and lobsters

Small eyes Big upper lobe
of tail fin

STATS AND FACTS

SWIMMING DEPTH
655 ft/200 m (max.)
Sandtigers hunt in
warmer coastal waters, ft 200 400 600 800
and spend the cooler
winter months closer m 50 100 150 200 250
to the equator. 0–82 ft/0–25 m (usual)
LIFESPAN

MAX. SCHOOL SIZE years 5 10 15 20
8 0 16 years (max. recorded)

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