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Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
Silhouette: PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassElasmobranchii
- OrderCarcharhiniformes (Ground Sharks)
- FamilyCarcharhinidae (Requiem Sharks)
- GenusGaleocerdo (Tiger Sharks)
- SpeciesGaleocerdo cuvier (Tiger Shark)
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~50%
9 Verified sightings at Galápagos Islands From 2019 to 2026
26 In all 2 parks
January Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted
About the Tiger Shark
The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is a species of ground shark, and the only extant member of the genus Galeocerdo and family Galeocerdonidae. It is a large predator, with females capable of attaining a length of over 5 m (16 ft 5 in). Populations are found in many tropical and temperate waters, especially around central Pacific islands. Its name derives from the dark stripes down its body, which resemble a tiger's pattern and fade as the shark matures.
The tiger shark is a solitary, mostly nocturnal hunter. It is notable for having the widest food spectrum of all sharks, with a range of prey that includes crustaceans, fish, seals, birds, squid, octopuses, sea turtles, sea snakes, dolphins, and even smaller sharks. It also has a reputation as a "garbage eater", consuming a variety of inedible, man-made objects that linger in its stomach. Tiger sharks have only one recorded natural predator, the orca. It is considered a near-threatened species because of finning and fishing by humans.
The tiger shark is second only to the great white in recorded fatal attacks on humans, but these events are still exceedingly rare. The shark was first described by Peron and Lesueur in... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Tiger Shark in Galápagos Islands
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ningaloo Marine Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Galápagos Islands | 🇪🇨 Ecuador |
Zoos & Centres Where Found
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indira Gandhi Zoological Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 2 | Zoo Atlanta | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Parque Zoológico Miguel Ángel de Quevedo | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 5 | Aquarium of Veracruz | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 6 | North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Acuario Inbursa | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 8 | Bangsaen Aquarium | 🇹🇭 Thailand | |
| 9 | Maui Ocean Center | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | The Sixth Cycle Birthday Anniversary Celebration Aquarium | 🇹🇭 Thailand |
Closest Relatives at Galápagos Islands
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Tiger Shark in Galápagos Islands?
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Tiger Shark sighting in Galápagos Islands on a given day, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 15th most-seen of the 16 sharks and rays we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Tiger Shark in Galápagos Islands?
January
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Tiger Shark in Galápagos Islands on a given day, against under 5% in April, June and August–December, the lowest months. That is one of Galápagos Islands's wettest months, with about 30 mm of rain against almost none in August.
What time of day is best to see a Tiger Shark?
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Tiger Shark sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Is Galápagos Islands the best place to see a Tiger Shark?
2nd of 2
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Tiger Shark sightings, Galápagos Islands ranks 2nd at about 10%. The best odds are in Ningaloo Marine Park (Australia, about 30%).
Which relatives of the Tiger Shark live in Galápagos Islands?
Same family: Carcharhinidae
The closest relatives of the Tiger Shark that you can see in Galápagos Islands (family Carcharhinidae, Requiem Sharks) are Whitetip Reef Shark (about 70%), Requiem shark (about 70%) and Galápagos Shark (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
Where does the Tiger Shark sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Tiger Shark is recorded against all the sharks and rays logged in Galápagos Islands (9 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
