[1] The tiger shark is second only to the great white in recorded fatal attacks on humans, but these events are still exceedingly rare.

[15][17][18][12] One pregnant female caught off Australia reportedly measured 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in) long and weighed 1,524 kg (3,360 lb).

[19] Some papers have accepted a record of an exceptional 7.4-metre (24 ft 3 in), 3,110-kilogram (6,860 lb) tiger shark, but since this is far larger than any scientifically observed specimen, verification would be needed.

[23] There is variation in the speed of growth rates of juvenile tiger sharks depending on the region they inhabit, with some growing close to twice as fast as others.

[7][19] The great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran), a member of the same taxonomic order as the tiger shark, has a similar or even greater average body length, but is lighter and less bulky, with a maximum known weight coming from a heavily pregnant 4.4 m (14 ft) long individual at 580 kg (1,280 lb).

[29] The skin of a tiger shark can typically range from blue to light green with a white or light-yellow underbelly.

[27] Tiger sharks also have a sensory organ called a lateral line which extends on their flanks down most of the length of their sides.

[32] A reflective layer behind the tiger shark's retina, called the tapetum lucidum, allows light-sensing cells a second chance to capture photons of visible light.

[7] Its behavior is primarily nomadic, but is guided by warmer currents, and it stays closer to the equator throughout the colder months.

[34] Tiger sharks can be seen in the Gulf of Mexico, North American beaches, and parts of South America.

Around the time they attain 2.3 m (7.5 ft), or near sexual maturity, their selection expands considerably, and much larger animals become regular prey.

[53] The broad, heavily calcified jaws and nearly terminal mouth, combined with robust, serrated teeth, enable the tiger shark to take on these large prey.

[45] In addition, excellent eyesight and acute sense of smell enable it to react to faint traces of blood and follow them to the source.

The ability to pick up low-frequency pressure waves enables the shark to advance towards an animal with confidence, even in murky water.

[29] Notably, terrestrial mammals, including horses (Equus ferus caballus), goats (Capra aegagrus hircus), sheep (Ovis aries), dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), cats (Felis catus), and brown rats (Rattus norvegicus), are fairly common in the stomach contents of tiger sharks around the coasts of Hawaii.

[55] Because of its aggressive and indiscriminate feeding style, it often mistakenly eats inedible objects, such as automobile license plates, oil cans, tires, and baseballs.

[6] All tiger sharks generally swim slowly, which, combined with cryptic coloration, may make them difficult for prey to detect in some habitats.

[27] Typical weight of relatively young sexually mature specimens, which often locally comprise the majority of tiger sharks encountered per game-fishing and scientific studies, is around 80 to 130 kg (180 to 290 lb).

Mating in the Northern Hemisphere generally takes place between March and May, with birth between April and June the following year.

The tiger shark is the only species in its family that is ovoviviparous; its eggs hatch internally and the young are born live when fully developed.

The results of this study were interpreted as reflecting two ecological transitions: as tiger sharks mature they become more migratory and having a symmetrical tail is more advantageous in long-distance traveling, and that tiger sharks consume more diverse prey items with age, which requires a greater bite force and broader head.

They are considered a near threatened species due to excessive finning and fishing by humans according to International Union for Conservation of Nature.

This bite rate is very low, considering that thousands of people swim, surf, and dive in Hawaiian waters every day.

[64] On 8 June 2023, a tiger shark attacked and killed a 23-year-old Russian man in the Red Sea off the coast of the Egyptian city of Hurghada.

Feeding sharks in Hawaii (except for traditional Hawaiian cultural or religious practices) is illegal,[67][68] and interaction with them, such as cage diving, is discouraged.

[71] Warming Atlantic Ocean currents have caused tiger shark migration paths to move further north, according to a University of Miami study.

[73] Tiger sharks possess a unique significance as ʻaumakua, revered as family guardians in Hawaiian culture.

The tiger shark, regarded as an intelligent and highly perceptive spiritual entity, assumes the role of a messenger bridging the gap between humans and the divine.

In the Hawaiian belief system, ʻaumakua take on various forms, either animals or objects, representing ancestral connections and manifestations of departed family members.