Body shape
Bulky body with a sharp, pointy head.
SharksCritically Endangered
Sand Tiger Shark
Carcharias taurus
A slow-moving, relatively placid shark of subtropical and temperate continental shelves, often found near sandy shorelines and submerged reefs.
spotted ragged-tooth shark
Species Guide
What to know about sand tiger sharks
A clean field guide focused on habitat, identification, behavior, and conservation context without burying the useful parts.
The sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus) inhabits subtropical and temperate waters worldwide, occupying continental shelf habitats from sandy shorelines and submerged reefs down to about 191 m. It occurs in regions including Japan, Australia, South Africa, and the east coasts of the Americas; it is presumed extirpated from the Mediterranean after the last sighting in 2003. Adults are bulky with a sharp, pointy head, typically 2.2–2.5 m long and reaching up to about 3.2 m. Colouration is grey with reddish-brown spots on the back. Sand tiger sharks are relatively placid and slow-moving, and have no confirmed human fatalities recorded. They can gulp air at the surface, which allows them to remain suspended in the water column with minimal effort. Reproduction includes intrauterine cannibalism, where the most developed embryo feeds on its siblings. The species is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is commonly kept in public aquariums due to its tolerance for captivity.
Categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Relatively placid and slow-moving; can remain suspended in the water column by gulping air from the surface.
The strongest linked planning options currently surface around destinations such as Aliwal Shoal and Umkomaas, Perth and Rottnest Island (Wadjemup), Sodwana Bay and countries such as Australia, South Africa, United States of America for divers building trips around sand tiger sharks.
