Selective Predation on Large Cheloniid Sea Turtles by Tiger Sharks ( Galeocerdo cuvier)

Abstract

Tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) selectively prey on large cheloniid sea turtles. Of 404 tiger shark stomachs examined in eight previously published studies, 327 (80.9%) contained food; and 68 (20.8%) of those sharks with food also contained large cheloniid sea turtle remains. The literature indicates that tiger sharks are the only elasmobranch predator that consistently eats large boney turtles. Tiger sharks are able to specialize in such a diet because they share the same inshore habitat as turtles, and have developed a unique masticating mechanism and feeding behavior. A rational tiger shark harvesting program is suggested to reduce predation on some endangered sea turtle populations.