Tiger Shark Size Comparison: Just How Big Do They Get?

As a massive, fearsome macropredator with dazzling tiger-like stripes and rows of tough, serrated teeth, the tiger shark is truly one-of-a-kind, even among a group of animals as incredible as sharks! But how big do tiger sharks get when they reach their full size? How big are they when they are born, and where do they rank when compared to other types of sharks? Read on to learn all about just how massive tiger sharks are, as well as some interesting facts about them like the largest specimen ever recorded!

Get to Know the Tiger Shark: Overview and Fun Facts

Interestingly, the tiger shark is the only species within its genus, Galeocerdo, as well as its entire taxonomic family, Galeocerdonidae. More broadly speaking, it falls under the largest taxonomic order of sharks, Carcharhiniformes. The 270 or so species within this order–including the tiger shark–are better known collectively as ground sharks, as they primarily inhabit warm, fairly shallow ocean waters.

The tiger shark’s common name comes from the species’ dark gray, tiger-like vertical stripes along the sides of its body. However, these stripes are most prominent in juvenile tiger sharks. They fade as the shark reaches maturity at around four to six years old. 

Even among sharks, the tiger shark is well-known for not being picky when it comes to its meals. This apex predator’s diet is diverse, ranging from nearly any fish it can fit in its mouth to sea turtles, crustaceans, birds, dolphins, and, yes–even other, smaller sharks. The only animal willing to prey upon it is the killer whale, and even then, these occurrences are fairly rare.

Tiger sharks have several unique traits that make them especially deadly apex predators, perhaps most notably their short yet broad, serrated teeth with slightly curved, sideways-pointing tips. These teeth are perfect for tearing into all sorts of prey animals, even the hard, bony shells of sea turtles! 

But it doesn’t stop there–the tiger shark’s body is also armed with adaptations that make it extra-proficient as a predator. Its long, streamlined fins and tail are ideal for swimming at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. This makes it one of the fastest sharks in the ocean as well as one of the largest (as we’ll touch on more below).

How Big Are Baby Tiger Sharks When They Are Born?

Tiger sharks are ovoviviparous, meaning they develop within thin, flexible egg cases that hatch inside of their mothers. After her eggs hatch inside of her, a mother tiger shark will give live birth to a litter of anywhere from 10 to 80 pups. Even at birth, tiger sharks are already impressively large and well-developed, measuring around 20 to 30 inches long on their very first day of life.

Interestingly, a tiger shark’s growth rate in its first few years can vary significantly depending on its habitat and where it lives. They tend to mature more quickly in warmer waters such as near Hawaii and the Gulf of Mexico than in cooler, more temperate waters. 

Overall, though, tiger sharks are among the fastest-growing sharks in the world. By the end of their first year, a juvenile specimen can measure around four feet long and weigh more than 40 pounds. Furthermore, by the time they are five years old, many tiger sharks top eight feet in length. They reach their fully mature size at around 7 to 12 years old and can live for over 30 years.

How Big Are Adult Tiger Sharks?

A fully-mature tiger shark can weigh anywhere from 380 to 1,400 pounds and measure around 10 to 13 feet long on average. As we touched on earlier, tiger sharks grow and mature very quickly. What’s more, they never quite stop growing, even after reaching sexual maturity at around 7 to 12 years old.

As a sexually dimorphic species, female tiger sharks are larger than males. This is mainly because females must carry very large litters of young around once every three years. While especially large female tiger sharks can reach sizes of over 15 feet long and 2,000 pounds, the largest male specimens tend to max out at around 12 to 13 feet and 1,200 to 1,400 pounds.

Compared to the average human, a tiger shark is close to twice as long and anywhere from two to ten times as heavy! Furthermore, this makes the typical tiger shark almost a third of the length of a school bus. An especially large tiger shark specimen can weigh almost half as much as the average car.

The Largest Tiger Shark Ever Recorded

The largest tiger shark ever recorded was an absolute behemoth of the sea, measuring a mind-boggling 1,785 pounds, 11 ounces. It was caught off the coast of Ulladulla, Australia, in 2004 by angler Kevin J. Clapson. 

Notably, Clapson’s record ties to a previous record set way back in 1964 by South Carolina angler Walter Maxwell. Maxwell’s catch, caught off the coast of North Myrtle Beach on Cherry Grove Pier, weighed 1,780 pounds and measured 13.5 feet, 10.5 inches long. It reportedly took Maxwell around five hours to reel in the massive specimen. At the time, he broke an existing record by more than 300 pounds.

Due to official IGFA rules that state a new record must beat the previous one by at least 0.5%, Clapson and Maxwell’s records remain tied despite being around 40 years apart! What’s even more incredible is larger tiger sharks measuring over 16 feet have been reported, though most existing claims remain unconfirmed. Only time will tell if another angler manages to top the current official record!

Are Tiger Sharks Bigger Than Great White Sharks?

As one of the largest shark species, tiger sharks rank fourth in terms of average size, only just behind the whale shark, basking shark, and great white shark, respectively. They’re also the second-largest predatory sharks, with the great white once again outranking them by a few feet and a few hundred pounds on average when fully grown.

While tiger sharks usually measure around 10 to 13 feet long and weigh roughly 380 to 1,400 pounds on average, great white sharks typically reach anywhere from 11 to 16 feet and can weigh 1,000 to 2,500 pounds. As a similarly sexually dimorphic species, female great whites tend to be larger and heavier than males. Like tiger sharks, great whites also are ovoviviparous, so their young hatch from eggs that develop inside of their mothers.

However, especially large great white specimens are even larger and longer than this. Incredibly, the largest great white shark on record measured around 20 feet long and is estimated to weigh close to 5,000 pounds. In short, great whites are quite a bit larger and longer than tiger sharks, though both are massive as far as predatory sharks go, as well as among sharks in general!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © le bouil baptiste/Shutterstock.com