BY HEATHER MARLETTE
The main event now – the number one
coolest shark according to yours truly. The Tiger Shark. This species is
literally in a class itself, being the only species in the Galeocerdo genus.
Overall picture, yes another requiem shark, though this shark is not
viviparous, it is again the ONLY one in its class that is in fact ovoviviparous
– though, I do have to admit the only real difference between viviparous and
ovoviviparous is that in viviparous animals there is a placental connection and
there is not in ovoviviparous, the unborn getting their nourishment instead
from the yolk in their eggs. Female Tigers only mate every 3 years, generally
in the months of March-May. The pups will gestate inside for up to 16 months.
Again the females are often larger than the males; average length of the males
is around 14 feet and 15 for the females.
They have a smaller body type than
most of its rivals, with a very slim and straight-line design. They have
bluish/greenish skin with a yellow or white belly. This is a great hunting
advantage, as prey below the sharks will not see them when looking up. They of
course have the dark stripes/spots running down their body that gives them
their name; however these do fade with age. Tigers also have a smaller, wedge
like head/snout, which makes turning easier for them, and have many sensory
organs in their snouts and down their flanks to pick up the minutest of
vibrations in the water, making them dangerous hunters since they can stay
completely hidden in the dark. The Tiger Shark hunts alone, mainly at night.
They are found in temperate or tropical waters, often in the central Pacific.
This is a five gill shark, with 2 dorsal fins, and nictitating membranes to
protect the eyes. They seem to have no real depth presence and have been
recorded in water from 10 feet deep to depths of 3,000 feet.
Tigers are known for their ability
and preference to eat ANYTHING from tiny fish to sea turtles – which seem to be
a preference for adults. They also go after dolphins, to the point that science
has evidence of dolphins avoiding areas with high Tiger Shark Populations. They
are known to scavenge corpses of whales, and will actually join together to
attack a whale in distress. These sharks are the epitome of the apex predator
with their enhanced eyesight, sense of smell and sensory abilities. Since they
have such highly developed hunting skills it is amazing that they have such a
scavenger reputation that they are known in many circles as “wastebaskets of
the sea.” Whether the water is clear or not, they will know exactly where their
potential prey is located, and go forward with powerful bursts from their tail.
They circle their potential victim, bumping it with their highly sensitive
snout to investigate it – and when they are satisfied, they often take their
prey whole. For larger victims it may take a few large bites. The Tiger is like
a garbage disposal, and when cut open anything can be found in the stomach,
from fish and turtles to horses, cats, and even rats to inanimate things like
license plates, baseballs, and any other item the shark thought might be tasty.
Though they like to swim lazily, barely moving their tail, they are actually
quite good sprint swimmers and known as some of the strongest swimmers in the
oceans.
This magnificent species has much lore
around it, most notably in the Hawaiian culture. The Tiger Shark is known in
Hawaii as one of their nā ʻaumākua – which is
their version of a family God or deified ancestor. This type of God exists in
many cultures, and is believed to be a deity or spirit that protects at least
certain members of the family if not the family in a whole. It can also be tied
back to the popular Hawaiian myth of Ka-moho-aliʻi who was located in the region of the waters between Maui and
Kahoolawe. Mainly, when a ship was lost at sea, Ka-moho-aliʻi shook his tail in front
of the lost and they would not only be feed, but also guided home. This God is
often credited with being the one to bring the first citizens of Hawaii there.
There
you have it. The number one, apex, best shark of the lot. I am sorry if your
shark did not make my cut, but there you have it. Of course, this list is
simply knowledge gathered after hearing something on a Shark Week show that
piqued my interest and caused me to investigate something further. No science,
nothing but my opinion and my reasoning’s. I welcome point counter point in the
comments, because agree with the top ten or not you have to admit that as long
as you have an opinion, the sharks may yet be saved. The Tiger, my favorite
apex predator is also on the Nearly Threatened List. So many of these magnificent
creatures are Nearly Threatened or at the beginning of actual Endangerment
because of foolish reasons. Sport hunting the sharks, or commercial fisheries
going after them for teeth, jaws, leather for shoes and belts, use in
cosmetics. They are also used in cancer research
projects, but since the parts we need to use wouldn’t let them survive, they
are killed for this too. Let’s not forget about Shark-Fin-Soup. This may be
considered a delicacy in some lands, but most can agree it is a tasteless soup
that is made to impress people not for gourmet reasons. For the sharks that are
killed for Finning – the fin is less than 4% of their body weight. After they
are removed the sharks are generally thrown back to die. Over 100 different
species of the 450 known shark species are seen as being endangered since their
long term survival can no longer be foreseen, and more on the Nearly Threatened
List. For creatures directly designed from the “sea monsters” of the
prehistoric era, the only true danger that they have faced is human kind – and we
cry about them being killing machines, make movies depicting them as vicious,
mindless killers. Irony at the highest level.
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