Tiger Shark Galeocerdo cuvier Megan Murphy

Order Carcharhiniformes - Ground Sharks  Most dominant group of sharks ~200 described species  Anal fin  5 gill slits  2 dorsal fins  No fin spines  Mouth that reaches behind the eyes  Nictitating eyelids

Family Carcharhinidae – Requiem Sharks  Small or large  Nearly circular eyes  Usually no spiracles or barbels  Pectoral fins are completely behind the 5 gill slits  Some don’t get bigger than ~28 in  Some grow to be over 9 ft  48 species - dominating the tropical shark fauna  Wide habitat range  Variety of prey

Tiger Shark  Can grow to be anywhere from over 18 up to 25 ft  Solitary except when mating  One of the few sharks that will occasionally take human prey  Considered the most dangerous in tropical water  Second only to great whites  Got their name from the dark stripes on their body that fade as they mature

Shortfin Mako Shark – Isurus oxyrinchus

Order Lamniformes – Mackerel Sharks  Long snouts  Mouth that stretches beyond the eyes  2 dorsal fins  1 anal fin  While in the womb they are known to feed on their siblings  Range from intertidal areas to the open ocean

Family Lamnidae – Mackerel Sharks  Large, heavy bodied  Spindle-shaped  Small to moderately large eyes  Long conical snout  Large mouths with slightly protrusible jaws  Large bladelike teeth  Largest get up to 20 ft  Found in all cold temperature tropical seas  5 species

Shortfin Mako Shark  Fastest of all  Can swim at speeds up to mph because of their torpedo-like body shape  Live in tropical and temperate offshore water  Can leap up to 20 ft out of the water into the air  Large dark eyes  Up to 12 ft in length