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Animal Guide

Sand Tiger Shark

28 destinations · 19 states

Native Range
Warm and temperate coastal waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and western Pacific oceans

Sand tiger sharks have an unmistakable look, with pointed teeth that remain visible even when the mouth is closed. At an aquarium, that toothy expression can make them seem intimidating, but their swimming style is often surprisingly calm. Watch one cruise slowly past the glass and you'll notice the shark barely moves its body. Instead, the tail provides steady propulsion while the fins make small adjustments to keep it on course. Sand tiger sharks also have an unusual habit that is easy to miss. They can gulp air at the surface and hold it in their stomachs, helping them control their buoyancy as they move through the water. Look for several sharks circling at different depths, which gives a good sense of how they use the entire habitat. In the wild, they often stay near sandy bottoms, rocky reefs, and coastal areas. Their long, narrow bodies and rows of protruding teeth make them one of the most recognizable sharks to encounter behind aquarium glass.

Sand Tiger Shark

Where to see Sand Tiger Shark

28 destinations across 19 states

28 destinations

ABQ BioPark Aquarium

Albuquerque, NM

Adventure Aquarium

Camden, NJ

Audubon Aquarium

New Orleans, LA

Downtown Aquarium

Houston, TX

Georgia Aquarium

Atlanta, GA

Greater Cleveland Aquarium

Cleveland, OH

Jenkinson's Aquarium

Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

Kansas City, MO

Long Island Aquarium

Riverhead, NY

Marineland Dolphin Adventure

St. Augustine, FL

Minnesota Zoo

Apple Valley, MN

Mystic Aquarium

Mystic, CT

National Aquarium

Baltimore, MD

New York Aquarium

Brooklyn, NY

North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher

Kure Beach, NC

North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

Pine Knoll Shores, NC

OdySea Aquarium

Scottsdale, AZ

Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach, SC

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

Gatlinburg, TN

SEA LIFE at Mall of America

Bloomington, MN

SeaWorld Orlando

Orlando, FL

SeaWorld San Antonio

San Antonio, TX

SeaWorld San Diego

San Diego, CA

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

Las Vegas, NV

Tennessee Aquarium

Chattanooga, TN

The Florida Aquarium

Tampa, FL

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk

Norwalk, CT

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

Virginia Beach, VA

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