Overview

Sandtiger sharks belong to the Odontaspididae family. They have a distinctive, elongated, and somewhat flattened body shape with a pointed snout. Their coloration is typically gray to brown, often with darker blotches or spots. Unlike other similar species, such as the bull shark, sandtiger sharks have a slenderer build and a longer, more pointed snout. They also have a unique feature of having two dorsal fins that are nearly the same size, while other similar species have a larger first dorsal fin.

Commonly found in:

1. South Africa
2. Australia
3. United States
4. Brazil
5. Japan
6. Portugal
7. Spain
8. Morocco
9. Namibia
10. New Zealand
11. Argentina
12. Uruguay
13. Chile
14. Mexico
15. Canada

Over the past 64 years, there have been 26 recorded attacks by sandtiger sharks. Of these attacks, they have occurred at sea and at the following beaches:

• Pyramids Beach
• Ventnor City Beach
• Rehoboth Beach
• Kure Beach
• Wrightsville Beach

Size and Weight

• Size: Males average between 6.5-8.2 feet when mature; females average between 7.5-9.8 feet when mature
• Weight: Males typically weigh 200-290 pounds; females typically weigh 220-350 pounds
• Swimming speed: Both sexes swim at speeds of 2-3 mph

Interaction with Humans

• Interaction with Humans: Generally non-aggressive, but may bite if provoked
• Avoidance: Stay out of coastal waters at night, avoid areas with schools of fish
• Activity: Nocturnal, most active at night

Lifespan and Diet

• Lifespan: Males live approximately 20-25 years; females live approximately 25-30 years
• Diet: Fish, smaller sharks, rays, squid; hunts by stealth and ambush near the bottom

Migratory Patterns

Sandtiger sharks exhibit seasonal migration patterns. They typically move northward along the coast during summer months and southward during winter. In the western Atlantic, they migrate from waters off the coast of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to as far north as New England and Nova Scotia. In the eastern Pacific, they migrate from California to Oregon and Washington. Some populations in Australia also show north-south migrations along the coast, moving between Queensland and New South Wales.