Family: ODONTASPIDIDAE, Sand Tiger Shark, Sandtiger Shark, Sandtiger Sharks

FAMILY ODONTASPIDIDAE

SAND TIGER SHARKS

Large (to 4.1 m), bulky sharks; eyes lack a nictitating membrane; tiny spiracles present; snout conical, bulbous; a long, angular mouth that extends back well past the eyes; large unserrated dagger-like teeth with small points on each side of base; 5 gill slits, not long, all before pectoral base; 2 dorsal fins, large, similar size; anal fin as large as 2nd dorsal; a pit on top of tail base before tail fin; tail fin large, strongly asymmetrical, top lobe notched below tip.

These sharks are active predators of a variety of small to moderately large fishes, small sharks, rays, squids, crabs, and lobsters.

The family contains two genera and three species. They are distributed in all tropical and temperate seas. All three species occur in our region.

PREPARED BY D ROSS ROBERTSON, AFTER CARPENTER (2002)