Within the last month, at least two men were killed by shark attacks. One of the victims was an American who was attacked off the Pacific coast of Mexico and the other was killed by a great white shark in California. While experts debate whether the attacks were simply coincidence or signs that sharks are being forced to turn to humans as a result of overfishing, some wonder whether sand tiger sharks pose a danger.
Basic information about this type of shark could provide reassurance for the wary. It can also help prevent or minimize the chances of a sand tiger shark attack.
Sand tiger sharks – appearance and general information
Sand tiger sharks are also known as Carcharias taurus, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s Ichthyology Department website at www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/DeSCRIPT/Sandtiger/Sandtiger.html . These sharks have distinctive catlike eyes and mouths full of very sharp teeth. They can certainly look very fearsome, with their sleek bodies, pointy snout and a somewhat scowling face. Each row of teeth is shed every two weeks. These teeth have a very ragged appearance which makes sand tiger sharks appear particularly fierce.
Common names for this shark include sand tiger, grey nurse, ground shark, spotted raggedtooth shark and bacota, sarda and mangona.
Sand tiger sharks tend to be light gray with whitish stomachs as well as a first and second dorsal fin on the top of their backs. Their tails are large and the shark itself may be as large as 10 feet long. This makes them relatively small in comparison to great white sharks (which can be up to 20 feet long, at least) but still large enough to terrify the average swimmer or diver.
This shark can be found in the waters of Australia, South Africa, South America, China, Japan and China as well as parts of America. In the summer it is often found in the Cape Cod areas as well as the Delaware Bay. It is not found in the eastern Pacific.
If you’d like to get a look at some actual photos or videos of sand tiger sharks, check them out here at www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/thumb.asp
You’ll see a portfolio of various close-ups that will send chills down your spine and possibly make you feel less inclined to venture into any ocean where these sharks can be found. But do you really have anything to fear?
Sand tiger sharks – behavior
Believe it or not, some divers regularly swim with sand tiger sharks, including some off the coast of North Carolina. You can read about that here at www.nautilusproductions.com/sandtigersharks/facts.html . Based on the experience of these divers, they are considered fairly unaggressive (at least, in American waters). Sand tiger shark attacks are relatively uncommon. Great white, tiger and bull sharks attack far more often. Actually, the chances of being harmed by any type of shark are fairly small.
But when it comes to shark attacks, the sand tiger is less likely to be harmful than all but the Requiem shark.
Sand tiger shark attacks on humans
As a general rule, these sharks will not attack humans unless bothered. This information is based on many studies conducted by the Florida Museum of Natural History and other places where shark experts do similar scientific experiments and observe shark behavior. Even so, sand tiger sharks should be treated with great care. People have been attacked while fishing and sand tiger sharks have been known to take fish from fisherman.
Happily, most attacks are provoked or cause by unwise behavior by humans. Even when sand tiger sharks do attack, they rarely kill their victims. Fatalities are ery rare.
Avoiding sand tiger attacks
Common sense goes a long way when it comes to staying safe in the water and steering clear of sharks. Many people attacked by sand tiger sharks were spearfishing and may have accidentally nicked or hurt one of these creatures by mistake. Not a good idea! Also unwise? Tempting sharks by cutting up fish or throwing pieces of them into shark-infested water.
It is possible to accidentally catch a sand tiger shark. If you do do, the best thing to do is to try and get it off your boat as quickly as possible and without touching it anywhere near the head or neck area. Sharks can move very quickly. If possible, use a pole or other tool to get the shark back into the water because a frightened sand tiger shark could turn around quickly and give you a swift bite. Even if it was acting in self defense, it could open an artery in your hand, arm or leg.
Sand tiger sharks may be in danger from humans
While people may wonder if these fish are dangerous, the reality is that the World Conservation Organization has recognized the sand tiger as being at risk of becoming extinct. For this reason, anyone who catches one of these sharks must release it immediately and with the least amount of harm done to the shark. Sand tigers don’t reproduce quickly and a mature female may only have one or two pups per one to two year period of time. Fishermen have reported lower catch rates of these sharks so they may be going down in number. As a result, sand tiger sharks have far more to fear from people than people do from them!
