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What do tiger sharks eat?
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shark
Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), found throughout tropical and temperate seas worldwide.
Tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) are carnivorous sharks known for their broad feeding habits and role as apex predators in marine environments.12
Rather than being strictly limited to specific prey, they are opportunistic feeders that consume a wide variety of marine life, including:
- Marine animals: Fishes (including other sharks, skates, and stingrays), sea turtles, mollusks, crustaceans, squid, seabirds, and sea lions.31
- Scavenged items: They are noted for their inveterate scavenging, frequently consuming carrion (such as dead dogs) and garbage discarded from ships.31
- Inedible objects: Tiger sharks are famously indiscriminate, having been known to swallow coal, tin cans, bones, and clothing.3
Their feeding is supported by highly developed senses, including an acute sense of smell and a lateral line system that detects vibrations in the water.1