Sand Tiger Sharks

Sand Tiger sharks, also known as "gray nurse sharks" and "sand tigers", belong to the family Odontaspididae, although they are sometimes incorrectly labeled Carchariidae. Sand Tigers have teeth that are about 1.5 inches long, and are very pointy, like a drill bit. Their teeth point out at all directions, even when the mouth is closed, which leads to a very ragged looking mouth, shown in the picture above. Sand Tigers have a shoreline habitat, and live in temperate or warm waters worldwide. They swim from 6 to 600 feet underwater. Sand Tigers, when young, can have a few predators, but when adult, their only threat are humans. As a result of several factors, one of which is shark hunting, Sand Tigers are a threatened species in some places of the world, and vulnerable in others.

Sand Tigers are the only shark that go to the surface of the water, and gulp air. The air allows them to suspend in the water, silent, while they look for food.