Sand tiger shark finds new home - WCIV-TV | ABC News 4 - Charleston News, Sports, Weather

Sand tiger shark finds new home

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Audubon's Aquarium of the Americas has a new resident in its Gulf of Mexico exhibit.

Officials say "Smooth," a 200-pound, 7-foot, 9-inch sand tiger shark arrived at the aquarium on Sept. 14 from the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, and is the largest of three other sand tiger sharks on exhibit.

Often called "raggies" or "ragged-toothed sharks" because of their toothy grin, sand tiger sharks are found worldwide in temperate waters. The sharks are heavy-bodied and display a mouthful of sharp teeth that protrude in all directions, even when their mouths are shut.

Sand tiger sharks can reach up to 250 pounds in the wild. Yet experts say they're typically docile, non-aggressive animals whose diets consist mostly of small fish, small sharks, rays and squid.