Tiger Shark Size Explained & Compared With Others

Last Updated on April 11, 2023 by Amin Tawar

Tiger Shark Length

Tiger Shark Size

As the common animal tiger species, the tiger shark is a large, predatory shark that is found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world, including in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. 

It is also named for the distinctive, tiger-like stripes that are present on the sides of its body when it is young, which fade as the shark grows older.

Tiger sharks are known for their formidable size and powerful jaws. If you want to know their size, then the Tiger sharks can grow to be quite large, with average sharks reaching lengths of up to 3-4.2 m (10-14 ft) and some of the largest shark species have a length even up to 5 m (16 ft 5 in). 

Tiger SharkLength
Average size3-4.2 m (10-14 ft)
Maximum size5 m (16 ft 5 in)

Tiger Shark Weight

Tiger sharks are known for their distinctive tiger-like stripes and their voracious appetites, and they are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. 

They are opportunistic predators and will feed on a wide variety of prey, including fish, marine mammals, sea turtles, birds, and even garbage. It is due to this, that Tiger sharks are massive in terms of their weight. 

For instance, adult tiger sharks can reach lengths of up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) and can weigh up to 900 kg (2,000 lb). However, the average weight of a tiger shark is around 385-635 kg (850-1400 lbs). 1

Tiger SharkWeight 
Average size385-635 kg (850-1400 lbs)
Maximum size900 kg (2,000 lb)

Baby Tiger Shark Size

You would be surprised to know that baby tiger sharks are born fully formed and are able to swim and hunt for themselves from the moment they are born. 

Tiger sharks are ovoviviparous, which means that the eggs hatch inside the mother’s body, and the babies are born alive. Baby tiger sharks are born in litters of up to 80, but the average litter size is around 10-15.

Talking about their body size, baby tiger sharks are typically around 51 to 76 cm (20 to 30 in) long in length at birth and weigh around 20-30 pounds (9-13 kg). 

Additionally, after 6 months, baby tiger sharks will have grown significantly and will be around 5-7 feet (1.5-2 meters) in length and weigh around 100-200 pounds (45-90 kg). They will continue to grow rapidly, and by the time they are 1 year old, they will be around 8-10 feet (2.5-3 meters) in length and weigh around 200-300 pounds (90-135 kg).

Tiger Shark Teeth & Jaw/Mouth Size

If you have ever seen a shark in real life, you would surely have been shocked by its gigantic mouth and sharp teeth. 

Tiger sharks have powerful jaws and sharp teeth that allow them to hunt and eat a variety of prey, and they are known to be one of the most dangerous sharks to humans because of their aggressive feeding habits.

Tiger sharks have long, sharp teeth that are serrated on the edges, which makes them well-suited for cutting through flesh and bone. 

The teeth are arranged in rows, and as the shark grows and loses teeth, new ones will move forward to replace them. Tiger sharks have a total of about 50-80 teeth in their mouth, which can grow as long as 2 inches. 

The size of a tiger shark’s jaw and mouth can vary, but in general, they have large jaws and mouths that can open wide to allow them to take in large prey. The exact size of the shark’s mouth is yet unknown. 

Also Check Out Our Guide On Other Shark Sizes

Tiger Shark Size Compared To Human

Tiger Shark Size compared with human

Moving on, have you ever wondered how tiny you could look in front of a giant and massive tiger shark? Quite unimaginable but still what if we do come face to face with a shark in one of those deep ocean tours? 

Tiger sharks can grow to be quite large, with some individuals reaching lengths of over 5 m (16 ft 5 in). However, the average size for a tiger shark is typically around 3.2-4.2 m (10-14 ft) long. In terms of weight, tiger sharks can weigh anywhere from 385-635 kg (850-1400 lbs) on average. 

To give you an idea of how big that is compared to a human, a 12-foot (3.7-meter) long tiger shark is about the same length as a small car. 

A 14-foot (4.3-meter) long tiger shark is about the same length as a school bus. As for weight, an 850-pound (385 kg) tiger shark is roughly equivalent to the weight of six or seven adult humans, while a 1400-pound (635 kg) tiger shark is equivalent to the weight of around 10 adult humans.

Animal type Length Weight 
Tiger shark3-4.2 m (10-14 ft)385-635 kg (850-1400 lbs)
Average adult human 5.5 to 5.9 feet132 to 176 pounds (60 to 80 kgs)

Tiger Shark Size Vs Great White Shark Size Comparison

Tiger Shark Size compared with great white shark

What about two types of the same species, two species of shark, how would they look beside each other? Imagine the Tiger shark standing beside the Great White shark, will it be smaller or larger? 

Great white sharks and tiger sharks are both large predatory sharks, but there are some differences in their size. 

Great white sharks are generally larger than tiger sharks, with an average length of around 15-20 feet (4.5-6 meters) and a weight of around 2-3 tons. 

In comparison, tiger sharks are typically smaller, with an average length of around 3-4.2 m (10-14 ft) and a weight of around 850-1400 pounds (385-635 kg).

Animal type Length Weight 
Tiger shark3-4.2 m (10-14 ft)385-635 kg (850-1400 lbs)
Great white shark 11-20 feet (3.3-6 meters) 680 and 1,800 kg (1,500 and 4,000 pounds)

Tiger Shark Vs Whale Shark Size Comparison

Tiger Shark Size compared with whale shark

Unlike the Great white shark, Tiger sharks, and whale sharks are two very different species of shark, with some significant differences in size. 

Tiger sharks are relatively large predatory sharks, with an average length of around 3-4.2 m (10-14 ft) and a weight of around 850-1400 pounds (385-635 kg). 

In comparison, whale sharks are the largest fish in the world, and they can grow to be much, much larger than tiger sharks. 

The average size of a whale shark is around 12 meters (40 feet) long and around 21 metric tons (23 short tons) in weight.

It is quite shocking that in terms of size comparison, a 40-foot (12-meter) long whale shark is about three times the length of a 14-foot (4.3-meter) long tiger shark, and it weighs around 20-30 times more. 

Animal type Length Weight 
Tiger shark3-4.2 m (10-14 ft)385-635 kg (850-1400 lbs)
Whale shark 8-14.5 meters (26-48 feet)21 metric tons (23 short tons)

Tiger Shark Vs Orca Size Comparison

Tiger Shark Size compared with orca

Orcas, also known as killer whales, are much larger than tiger sharks. On average, orcas are around 6 to 8 meters (20 to 26 ft) long and weigh around 6 metric tons (13,000 pounds). 

In comparison, tiger sharks are typically around 3-4.2 m (10-14 ft) long and weigh around 850-1400 pounds (385-635 kg).

This means that an orca is about twice the length of a tiger shark and weighs around 7-10 times more. 

Additionally, Orcas are also much more powerful than tiger sharks, with strong muscles and a streamlined body shape that allows them to swim at high speeds.

Animal type Length Weight 
Tiger shark3-4.2 m (10-14 ft)385-635 kg (850-1400 lbs)
Orcas6 to 8 meters (20 to 26 ft)6 metric tons (13,000 pounds)

Tiger Shark Vs Bull Shark Size Comparison

Last up is the massive and quite similar sized shark species, the Bull shark. Tiger sharks and bull sharks are both large predatory sharks, but there are some differences in their size and behavior that can be used as a way to tell the two species of sharks apart from each other. 

On average, tiger sharks are slightly larger than bull sharks, with an average length of around 3-4.2 m (10-14 ft) and a weight of around 850-1400 pounds (385-635 kg). 

In comparison, bull sharks are typically smaller, with an average length of around 7-11 feet (2.1-3.4 meters) and a weight of around 200 to 300 pounds (91-136 kilograms).

Animal type Length Weight 
Tiger shark3-4.2 m (10-14 ft)385-635 kg (850-1400 lbs)
Bull shark 7 to 11 feet (2.1 to 3.4 meters)200 to 300 pounds (91-136 kilograms)

Conclusion

And that was everything you need to know about the size of Tiger Shark. I hope this article was informative enough and your queries were answered.

Thank You For Reading!

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