The Silky Shark is a large slender shark with a long rounded snout and low ridge between the dorsal fins. Silky sharks are valued for their fins, and to a lesser extent their meat, hide, liver oil, and jaws. Silkies are large, but slender sharks with long, flat snouts, large eyes, and small serrated teeth. Shark news from around the world. These species have a well-established association with tuna fish. CodyCross is an addictive game developed by Fanatee. Designed using Magazine News Byte. Silky sharks have about 14 to 16 and 13 to 17 tooth rows on their upper and lower jaws. In the Gulf of Mexico, they are often captured as bycatch in the tuna fishery but are also harvested by the directed shark fishery. Silky sharks are highly migratory. The silky shark is a sleek, pelagic species found in tropical waters around the globe. The Silky Shark has a slender body with a low ridge between the dorsal fins. Highly mobile and migratory, this shark is most often found over the edge of the continental shelfdown t… This species prefers sea temperatures from 73.5º to 75ºF [23º to 24ºC]. Silky sharks are found throughout the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans between 40°N latitude and 40°S latitude. This color fades to dark gray after the shark dies. Some common names from other countries include nachthaai (Dutch), requiem de nuit (French), requin de nuit (French), tiburon de noche (Spanish), tiburon nocturno (Spanish), tubarao-da-noite (Portugese), nachthai (German). However, if a large enough group of dolphins gathers, they can chase Silky sharks away from the prey items. The coloration fades to dull grey after death. The first dorsal fin is uniformly coloured. The spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna) is a type of requiem shark. Fishing pressure from longline and purse seines targeting tuna and swordfish is high for this species, especially in the eastern Pacific Ocean. SRI conducts and sponsors rigorous, peer-reviewed field research about sharks and uses science-based information to educate and advocate for shark conservation policies and protections by the world’s gove The Silky shark feeds on bony fish such as tuna, mackerel, sardines, and mullets, and molluscs such as squid and paper nautilus. Remoras eat scraps of prey dropped by the shark. Silky sharks are valued for their fins, and to a … The pups are born in reef nursery … Maximum size in cm 330 Identification. Due to their formidable size and dentition, silky sharks prove to be potentially dangerous to humans. They are commonly found near edges of continental shelves and over deepwater reefs where their food source is abundant. It is one of the requiem sharks and abundant in pelagic tropical waters around the world. There have been reported cases of individual sharks persistently harassing divers and sometimes even forcing them out of the water. Silky sharks’ dorsal and pectoral fins appear falcate, which is sickle-shaped. The skin of silky sharks has tiny dermal denticles overlapping each other covering their skin. Diet Bony fishes, squid. they give birth to live pups. The silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis), also known by numerous names such as blackspot shark, grey whaler shark, olive shark, ridgeback shark, sickle shark, sickle-shaped shark and sickle silk shark, is a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae, named for the smooth texture of its skin. In the western Atlantic, it ranges from Massachusetts to Brazil (including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea) and from Spain to Angola in the eastern Atlantic. The shark and remora relationship benefits both species. Named for the silky look of its skin, the silky shark tends to be long and slender, with slightly shorter dorsal fin (top), and elongated pectoral fins. These amazing sharks occur worldwide in warm temperate and tropical waters. Fossil evidence indicates silky sharks scavenged on whale carcasses. If a large number of sharks are present, they remain inside the prey school. They have high sensitivity to low-frequency irregular sounds 10 to 20 Hz. Research conducted off the coast of Florida, and the Bahamas showed that silky sharks are highly sensitive to sound. Their snout is relatively long and rounded with barely developed flaps of skin in front of their nostrils. There are more than 400 shark species in the ocean, but they all have the same basic anatomy. During migration, they may form groups segregated by sex or size. Silky Shark. It eats any parasites on the shark which helps keep the shark clean. The litter size ranges from 6 to 14. The silky shark, Carcharhinus falciformis, gets its name from its relatively smooth hide, which is comprised of very densely packed dermal denticles. Geographic Range. The Silky Shark is both targeted or caught as incidental (bycatch) by longline fisheries and purse seine fisheries (especially those using drifting fish aggregating devices [FADs]) as well as by artisanal fisheries. In the pacific, silky sharks have been documented to feed in large numbers, they were recorded “herding” a school of fish into a compact mass (bait ball) and trapping them against the surface where they consumed the entire school. It is one of the most abundant sharks in the pelagic zone, and can be found around the world in tropical waters. Its pectoral fins are long and slender, with dusky tips. Silky sharks often intermingle with schools of scalloped hammerheads (Sphyrna lewini) and are known to follow marine mammals. Silky sharks have a slim and streamline body. Its sense of hearing is extremely acute, allowing it to localize the low-frequency noises generated by other feeding animals, and, by extension, sources of food. Habitat: deep-water reefs, open sea, and occasionally inshore Location: tropical seas Size: range between 6-9 feet long Description: Silky sharks are long slim sharks that are known to be swift and bold with their movements. In 2007, the IUCN had to reassess the silky shark from the previous Least Concern status to Near Threatened worldwide. These species should benefit from bans on shark finning, which several nations and supranational entities including Australia, the United States, and the European Union are implementing. The Silky Shark has a slender, streamlined body and typically grows to a length of 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in). And the other, in mud, dating to the Pleistocene –Holocene (circa 12,000 years ago). The Silky Shark is the second most caught species of shark globally, after the Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) (Oliver et al. Silky are long-distance travelers with larger individuals covering more distance than smaller ones. It has long pectoral fins and a heterocercal tail. They also feed off of parasites on the shark’s skin and in its mouth. It is one of the most common shark species of the open ocean, but due to overfishing its status is now vulnerable. They are used for their oils and fins, and the fins are valued as an ingredient in shark fin soup. Found where All leves in the open ocean, shallow inshore This sha… Latin name Carcharhinus falciformis Silky sharks are valued for their fins, and to … Shark experts are surrounded by exceptionally large silky sharks in Cuban waters. Are you looking for never-ending fun in this exciting logic-brain app? C. falciformis are migratory and found in oceanic and coastal habitats of tropical water. They favor sub-tropical waters and are among the world’s most abundant shark … The lower teeth are long and smooth-edged. Status (IUCN) Vulnerable The silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Near Threatened globally but Vulnerable in some regions due to … The Silky Shark is a slender species that occurs in tropical and some warm temperate waters worldwide. Silky sharks can swim around floating objects like tettered naval buoys or logs. Of course, there was no historical recognition of adult silky sharks as *C. falciformis*. Organizations such as the Inter-America Tropical Tuna and International commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas have also taken steps to improve fishery monitoring, intending to reduce bycatch. The Silky Shark is a target or bycatch species in pelagic tuna longline and purse seine fisheries where it is taken in high numbers. They chase after tuna fish at a quick speed and don’t see the nets until they are already trapped. Predators of these sharks include large sharks like Tiger sharks, great white sharks, and killer whales (Orcinus orca). Other names Blackspot Shark, Grey Whaler Shark, Olive Shark, Ridgeback Shark, Sickle Shark, Sickle-shaped Shark, Sickle Silk Shark, Net-eater Shark. Also, a set of poorly described Eocene (54 -34 Mya) teeth resembling that of silky sharks are known from Egypt. In the Pacific this species is sometimes known as the ‘net-eater shark’. They have smooth skin and relatively large eyes. The dusky shark swims in tropical and temperate oceans worldwide, cruising from depths of 1,300 feet near the continental shelf all the way in to the surf zone and other shallow inshore waters. In tuna fishery the Silky Shark is often bycatch. Posted by krist on 25 April 2017, 11:36 pm. The litter size ranges from 1 to 16 and increases with female size, with 6–12 being typical. Their males mature at 9 to 10 years of age (215 -230 cm). The Silky often times gets caught into fishing nets due to their hunting behavior. While these sharks have a relatively slow reproductive rate, they are well dispersed. Fishing pressure from longline and purse seines targeting tuna and swordfish is high for this species, especially in the eastern Pacific Ocean. This is one of the most abundant sharks of the pelagic zone (open water away from shore and surface), and is usually not considered a threat to humans because few people enter its territory. When attacking packed fish, Silky sharks charge through the ball and cut open-mouthed, capturing the prey fish at the corners of their jaws. They add about 9.8 to 11.8 inches (25 to 30 cm) to their length in the first year. They have smooth skin and relatively large eyes. Silky Shark. After some months, the now subadult sharks move out of their nursery site into the open ocean. Silky sharks have very __ skin. They also feed on squid, swimming crabs, and paper nautilus. Identification. These sharks either live alone or in large groups. Hence, it comes as a reflex. Young pilot fish *(Naucrates doctor)* in turn, follows these sharks while swimming against the pressure wave ahead of silky sharks. The silky shark is a sleek, pelagic species found in tropical waters around the globe. Their upper teeth are triangular and sharply serrated with a notch in their posterior edge which is erect at the center and more oblique towards the sides. EPAULETTE SHARKS GUIDE – Description and Care Sheet, WOBBEGONG SHARK GUIDE – Description and Care Sheet, FRESHWATER SHARKS – Types, Facts, and FAQs, BAMBOO SHARKS GUIDE – Species, Features, Facts, and Care. Research showed no strong tendency for gender segregation in silky sharks. It travels everywhere the shark goes. Silky shark fin is very valuable as the main ingredient in shark fin soup. They have round and medium-sized eyes that have nictitating membranes (third eyelid) that can protect the eyes when feeding. This highly migratory, low productivity shark is at risk from substantial incidental take in high seas fisheries. No matter which one dominates, the two predators do not engage in overtly aggressive behavior towards one another. Facts about the Silky shark - Carcharhinus falciformis from the Shark Research Institute (SRI). Without silky sharks and other shark species, the ecosystem would shift and threaten the survival of the coral reef system, which supports a quarter of all ocean life! There are also, jacks that follow along attempting to snatch scraps of food and rubbing against silky sharks’ skin to scrape off parasites. Their back is metallic golden brown to dark grey with a snowy white color underneath their belly which continues onto the flank as a faint lighter stripe. The Silky shark is large, slim, and grows up to a maximum length of 3.3 metres (10 feet). Silky sharks are one of the three most pelagic sharks along with blue and oceanic whitetip sharks. Carcharhinus elongatus, which is an earlier representative of silk shark lineage with smooth-edged teeth is known from Oligocene deposit in the Ashley formation of South Carolina and the old church formation of Virginia. Spinner sharks get their name from their interesting feeding strategy, which involves spinning through a school of fish, snapping them up, and often leaping into the air. They are the most common shark caught as bycatch in eastern pacific And Gulf of Mexico tuna fisheries, and the second most common shark caught as bycatch. Based on morphology, Jack Garrick in 1982 proposed the blackspot shark (C. sealei) as their closest relative. These sharks have also been known to feed on the bodies of dead whales. These studies have also established that a silky shark attracted by this sound will quickly withdraw if the sound changes suddenly in character or amplitude. The uteri are divided lengthwise into different compartments for each embryo. They are species of requiem shark, belonging to the family of Carcharhinus. Quick Facts: – Silky Shark gives birth in summer from June through August. The silky shark grows to around 8 feet long, though can grows to 11 feet and is a deep, metallic bronze-gray above and white below. Furthermore, their caudal fin is relatively high and has well developed lower lobe. Silky sharks anal fins originate a little bit ahead of the second dorsal fin and have a deep notch in the posterior margin. At the same time, the dolphins gather themselves to the periphery to avoid accidental injury from silky sharks slashing attacks. This certainly shows their readiness for an attack. Silky sharks possibly orient to these sounds because they are similar to the noise produced by feeding animals such as dolphins or birds, thus indicating a promising source of food. In the east Pacific, Silky sharks inflict severe damage to tuna fishing gear and catch, which earned them the name “net-eating sharks” from fishery workers. It travels everywhere the shark goes. Apart from their importance to various fisheries, these sharks have been used in multiple scientific studies investigating their sensory biology. Subsequent authors assigned this species to the genus *Carcharhinus*. This shark is the second most traded on the Hong Kong fin market (after the blue shark). When approaching something of interest, these sharks may seem inattentive, slowly circling, swinging their head from side to side sometimes. These sharks in most parts of the world are likely to reproduce year-round, whereas mating and birthing take place in late spring or early summer in the Gulf of Mexico (May to August). The remora fish attaches to the belly of the shark by a sucker disc in it's mouth. Suspected to be the cause of deaths with ship sinkings or plane crashes at sea. Silky sharks pups are born in reef nursery areas on the outer continental shelf where there are food supplies and protection from predators. This is mainly low frequency (10 – 20 Hz), irregular pulses. And, in the south, they run from Australia, Sydney, to northern New Zealand to northern chile. In 1964, Richard Backus, Jack Garrick, Robert Gibbs, Jr, synonymized *C. falciformis*with *C. floridanus*. As a result, the specific epithet falciformis is a Latin word meaning “sickle-shaped”. Their females give birth after a gestation period of 12 months, sometimes every year or every other year. The risk of predation on juvenile silky sharks tends to be low because of their high growth rate. Silky sharks have unique metallic golden brown to gray coloration on their backside with a white color underneath. Fast Facts: Spinner Shark Silky sharks have a life span of 22 years or more. First efforts to solve the evolutionary relationships of these sharks were inconclusive. The Silky Shark get its name for its smooth skin. It is grey, blue grey or dark brown above with white underside. Silky sharks can be found in oceanic and coastal areas in tropical waters around the globe. Their first dorsal fin is relatively small, measuring less than a tenth as high as Silky shark is long and originates behind the free rear tips of pectoral fins. The silky shark is regarded as potentially dangerous to humans. Known parasites of silky sharks include the copepod Kroeyerina cortezensis, the isopod Gnathia trimaculata, the tapeworms Dasyrhynchus variouncinatus and phyllobothrium sp. Because of their abundance, they form a major component of commercial and artisanal shark fisheries in many countries. Geographic Range. They are among the most numerous large marine animals in the world. A not so picky eater the remora fish attaches itself the the shark. Silky sharks are found throughout the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans between 40°N latitude and 40°S latitude. Silky sharks are of great importance to longline and gillnet fisheries in many parts of the world. These sharks have short, shallow furrows at the corners of their mouth. These fish also attach to whales, tuna, sea turtles and many other large sea animals. Each dermal denticle has a diamond shape and bears horizontal ridges leading to their posterior marginal teeth which increases in number as the shark age. It is not sure yet the importance of this behavior. Their undersides … The silky shark is a predator and feeds mainly on inshore and pelagic bony fishes, but also eats squid and pelagic crab. Silky sharks are also taken by recreational fishermen. Adult dusky sharks have a broad and varied diet, consisting mostly of bony fishes, sharks and rays, and cephalopods, but also occasionally crustaceans, sea stars, bryozoans, sea turtles, marine mammals, carrion, and garbage. Thus, they also occur from depth as shallow as 56 ft (18 meters). It is a live-bearing, migratory shark found in warm ocean waters. These sharks and bottlenose dolphins compete when both of them target the same school of fish. The other fins may have dusky tips. They are both targeted and caught as bycatch and are often associated with fish aggregating devices (FADs). They are both targeted and caught as bycatch and are often associated with fish aggregating devices (FADs). One record from the Red seas describes 25 silky sharks following a large group of bottlenose dolphins along with 25 grey reef sharks (C. amblyrhynchos) and a “lone” silvertip shark (C. albimarginatus). This shark is a predator and feeds mainly on inshore and pelagic bony fishes, but also eats squid and pelagic crab. Powered by WordPress. Each world has more than 20 groups with 5 … Leonard Compagno in 1988 assigned silky sharks phylogenetically to an informal “transitional group” also containing blacknose sharks (C.acronotus), the nervous shark (C. cautus), the blacktip reef shark (C. melanopterus), the copper shark (C.brachyurus) and the night shark (C. signatus). The growing trade in shark fins often used to make an expensive Asian souphas become a serious threat to many shark species. Generally, these sharks range from the surface down to at least 1,550 ft (500 meters). Silky sharks are an active, curious and aggressive predator. But they have now been classified as “near threatened” and there are some concerns about the depleting population. Fossilized teeth of Silky sharks have been found In North Carolina. Silky sharks are highly mobile and migratory species, even though there are less data on their movements. This sudden change does not need to relate to a sound that a predator produces to evoke such a response. Occasionally, silky sharks have also been seen suddenly charging straight up, veering away just before reaching the surface and gliding back down to deeper oceans. The Silky Shark has a slender, streamlined body and typically grows to a length of 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in). In the Caribbean, they are sometimes fished majorly by longline but are not a common catch. Minute overlapping dermal denticles cover silky sharks’ skin. Though multiple silky sharks may feed at once, they launch their attack independently. Juveniles of silky sharks also form large groups loosely organized possibly for mutual defense. The second dorsal fin is tiny and smaller than the anal fin with a drawn-out free rear tip up to three times as long as the fin is tall. People also hunt it for sport. These sharks are caught in large numbers by commercial and artisanal multispecies shark fisheries operating off Guatemala, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, the United States, Portugal, Spain, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Cote d”Ivoire and Yemen. For instance, populations in the pacific and Indian oceans typically have a smaller size at maturation. These sharks are naturally curious and bold; these may cause them to approach divers and also become dangerously excited in the presence of food. And, on the other hand, two functional uteri. The amount eaten by dolphins reduces, depending on the number of Silky sharks available. Compared to other viviparous sharks, silky sharks placenta is less similar in that no interdigitation exists between the mother and the tissues of the fetus. Highly mobile and migratory, this shark is most often found over the edge of the continental shelf down to 50 m (164 ft). When these sharks feel threatened, they perform some specific gestures before approaching the threat in a rather broadside manner. The size of silky sharks pups at birth is 2 to 2.5 ft (70 – 85 cm). They have a narrow dorsal ridge run between the dorsal fins. The head of the Silky shark, when viewed from the side, comes to a sharp point. These scientists claim that sharks will perform maneuvers and even jump from the water to shake off remoras. Shark experts are surrounded by exceptionally large silky sharks in Cuban waters. Silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) are large pelagic sharks that got their name from the Silky look of their skin. It feeds mainly on bony fishes and squid, and has been known to drive them into compacted schools before launching open-mouthed, slashing attacks. Compared to other sharks, this skin appearance is unique, and it is a result of their tiny, densely packed dermal denticles. Silky sharks have five pairs of gill slits that are moderate in length. Silky sharks in most parts of the world are thought to reproduce year-round, whereas mating and birthing in the Gulf of Mexico take place in late spring or early summer (May to August).However, in some cases the presence of reproductive seasonality may have been obscured by biases in data collection. Likewise, in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, they are the most critical shark species comprising about 70 to 80 % of the pelagic longline catch. The silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Near Threatened globally but Vulnerable in some regions due to continued declines in their populations around the world. A phylogenetic analysis conducted in 1992 by Gavin Naylor using the allozyme sequence data, recently discovered that silky sharks are part of a group of large sharks with a ridge between the first and second dorsal fins. The second dorsal and anal fins have long free rear tips. World’s Biggest Fish. This gives the very smooth, silky appearance, hence, their common name “silky sharks”. This is because Henle and Muller’s type specimen was a female fetus 53 cm long from Cuba. When silky sharks feel threatened, they perform a threat display in which they arch their back, drop their tail, pectoral fins and lift their head. In Atlantic Ocean, they occur from the U.S. state of Massachusetts to Spain in the north and from south brazil to north Angola in the south that includes Gulf of Mexico, Meditteranean sea and Caribbean sea. What the world is doing to prevent sharks from extinction, Unfortunate encounters between man and shark, Less shark attacks during corona lockdown, New project highlights Libya as hotspot for angel sharks, Research on hammerheads for better protection, 10th Annual Whale Shark Festival in Isla Mujeres, Fatal shark attacks are at a record high. In 2017, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessed the silky shark as a “Vulnerable (VU)” species. In contrast, around the mid-Atlantic coasts of the states, Silky sharks are fished but not in significant numbers. They move about a lot on the shark's body and may attach themselves to areas that are sensitive or interfere with the shark's natural hydrodynamics. Mine Dosay-Abkulut’s 2008 ribosomal DNA analysis that includes the silky, blue and bignose sharks confirmed the closeness of the three species. They are species of requiem shark, belonging to the family of Carcharhinus. This practice affects many different shark species, including whale sharks. They seem to be more aggressive when encountered on the reef than in open water. Colour Deep, metallic bronze-gray above and white below. Protection, fishing policies, shark facts and shark sightings and attacks. Although Silky sharks are pelagic, they are not totally an open ocean species. This description appeared in their 1839 book titled *Systematische Beschreibung der plagiostomen*. For years, scientists believed there was a very high population of this species. The Silky Shark has a slender, streamlined body and typically grows to a length of 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in). The maximum size that the Silky sharks grow to is 3.3 metres, however, their average length is usually no more than 2.4 metres. The shark, abundant offshore and inshore, is oceanic, epipelagic and littoral. The fins of silky shark except for the first dorsal, darken at the tips and is more evident in juveniles than in adults. Their second dorsal fin is low on their body and has a long rear tip. These migratory sharks have dorsal and pectoral fins that are unique and help to differentiate them from similar species. Our first segment for this list of interesting shark facts is about the biggest … The Silky Shark has a slender body with a low ridge between the dorsal fins. The silky shark is a common tropical-subtropical, epipelagic species that occurs in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. Meanwhile, they often travel with others of their size, indicating that size segregation is present within them. These sharks then proceed to swim in tight loops with a stiff, jerky motion, most times turning broadside towards the perceived threat. German biologists Jakob Henle and Johannes Muller first described the silky shark as *Carcharias (Prionodon) falciformis*. Silky sharks are active, swift sharks that prefer warmer water (about 23 degrees Celsius). Also, they have many common names, which include grey whaler shark, blackspot shark, olive shark, sickle shark, ridgeback shark, sickle silk shark, and sickle-shaped shark. Silky sharks juveniles popularly relate with schools of tuna. It eats any parasites on the shark which helps keep the shark clean. Silky sharks are opportunistic predators. Females give birth after a gestation period of 12 months, either every year or every other year. These sharks are the third most auctioned on the Hongkong fin market, which represents over half of the global trade. Silky shark fins are relatively high-valued and … This species has a lifespan of about 23 years. Unlike most pelagic species, silky sharks occasionally swim to shallow waters at depths of about 56 feet (18 m). The Silky shark gets its name from the fact that it has a smooth, "silky" texture. Silky sharks have a slender streamlined body and grow to a maximum length of 10 ft (3.3 m). Silky Shark is one of the three most traded shark species in the global shark fin trade. But, they can dive to water as deep as 12,400 ft (4000 meters). Habitat: deep-water reefs, open sea, and occasionally inshore Location: tropical seas Size: range between 6-9 feet long Description: Silky sharks are long slim sharks that are known to be swift and bold with their movements. Off Ghana, nearly all tuna school has silky sharks trailing behind them. When these sounds were played underwater, it attracted sharks from hundreds of meters away. How Many Teeth Are There in a Shark’s Mouth. ‘Deterrent’ devices can help, but some may be nothing but snake oil. This helps them while hunting for prey. The pectoral fins are long and slim, and have dusky coloured tips.Silky sharks are normally dark grey with a shade of bronze, but are sometimes a golden-brown colour. Silky Shark Facts The silky shark, a sleek, pelagic species found in tropical waters around the globe, gets its common name from its exceptionally smooth skin, which has an almost metallic tone. While these sharks may appear inattentive and swimming in rather slow motion, they respond swiftly to any sudden movement around them. The latest research suggests that around 100 million sharks may be killed annually, often targeted for their fins. This makes the shark happy because the parasites would otherwise irritate the shark. Females of Silky sharks are larger than the males, and they reach maturity at 12 years of age (230 -245 cm). The popular common name “Silky sharks” comes from the smooth texture of their skin. This shark is in the group of large sharks with a ridge running between their dorsal fins. In the pacific ocean and other places, they spend summer at slightly higher latitudes mostly during warmer Nino years. Here are all the Silky sharks have very __ skin answers. Silky sharks are the basal member of the other branch and the sister taxon to a clade comprising Galapagos shark (C. galapagensis), Oceanic whitetip shark (C. longimanus), the Caribbean reef shark (C. perezi), Blue shark (Prionace glauca), and dusky shark (C. obscurus). Silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) are large pelagic sharks that got their name from the Silky look of their skin. However, they can respond with startling swiftness to any shift in their immediate surroundings. Silky Sharks feed primarily on offshore fishes, but they also eat squids and pelagic crustaceans. A not so picky eater the remora fish attaches itself the the shark. The specific epithet falciformis means “Sickle-shaped” in Latin, and it refers to the outline of the dorsal and pectoral fins of these sharks. In the Pacific ocean, in the north, their range runs from southern china and japan to southern Baja California and the Gulf of California. Nevertheless, given the highly migratory nature of the silky shark and their association with tuna, there is no known simple way to reduce bycatch without affecting the economy of the fishery. However, they rarely come in contact with people due to their oceanic habits. One branch within the group includes bignose shark *(C. altimus)* and sandbar shark *(C. plumbeus)*. A large, slim shark, the Silky shark has a fairly stretched , rounded snout, a relatively slanting first dorsal fin with a blunt top that is located behind the edges of the pectoral fins, a small second dorsal fin with an extremely long free rear tip (more than two times the height), and a low inter-dorsal ridge (ridge between the dorsal fins). These fish also attach to whales, tuna, sea turtles and many other large sea animals. Larger sharks such as the great white shark, tiger sharks, killer whales (Orcinus orca) serve as major predators to the silky shark species. In May 2009, the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) listed the sixth attack attributed to silky sharks, three unprovoked and non-fatal. The Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) is a type of shark of the genus Carcharhinus, family Carcharhinidae.They are mainly found in warm bodies of water in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.The Silky shark is large, slim, and grows up to a maximum length of 3.3 metres (10 feet). The common name of C. signatusin the United States is the night shark, due to its capture most often at night (Bigelow & Schroeder). HOW THEY ARE THREATENED Like other shark species, silky sharks are vulnerable to overfishing, due to their long gestation period, low number of offspring, and slow growth rate. Silky sharks, Carcharhinus falciformis (Müller and Henle, 1839), aka silkies, blackspot sharks, grey whaler sharks, olive sharks, reef sharks, ridgeback sharks, sickle sharks, and silk sharks), measure up to 3.5 m in length with a maximum published weight of 346 kg. 2015). These sharks occur throughout Indian Ocean, as far south as Mozambique in the west, western Australia in the east, Persian gulf and the red sea. Typically, young silky sharks stay mostly in coastal nurseries and their adults further offshore over deeper water. Silky sharks can be found in oceanic and coastal areas in tropical waters around the globe. Their primary food consists of Bony fishes from all levels of the water column, including mackerel, tuna, mullets, sardines, groupers, snappers, mackerel scads, sea catfish, sea chubs, lanternfishes, triggerfishes, file fishes, and porcupinefishes. The Silky Shark is a slender species that occurs in tropical and some warm temperate waters worldwide. The second dorsal and anal fins have long free rear tips. A large, slender shark, the silky shark has an extended, rounded snout, a sloping first dorsal fin, and a small second dorsal fin with an extremely long free rear tip. In Japan, silky sharks are commonly taken in the directed shark fishery but also in the swordfish as bycatch. Hence adults were described as *Carcharhinus floridanus*, a separate species by William Schroeder, Stewart springer, and Henry Bigelow, in 1943. It has long pectoral fins and a heterocercal tail. Because of their abundance, they form a major component of commercial and artisanal shark fisheries in many countries. Due to life history differences, there are four distinct populations of silky sharks in oceans worldwide: in the north Atlantic, west and central Pacific, in the eastern Pacific and the Indian ocean. This highly migratory, low productivity shark is at risk from substantial incidental take in high seas fisheries, exacerbated by demand for its meat and fins (which enter … Attacks on humans, while rare, are a concern for divers. This highly migratory, low productivity shark is at risk from substantial incidental take in high seas fisheries, exacerbated by demand for its meat and fins (which enter … This is from the vicinity of two baleen whales, one in Goose creek limestone dating to the late Pliocene (circa 3.5 million years ago –Mya). Compared to the two other sharks (blue and Oceanic whitetip sharks), they are less strictly pelagic. These amazing sharks occur worldwide in warm temperate and tropical waters. The bite force of a 2 m long silky sharks is measured at 200 Ibf (890 newtons). Recently, a group of Silkies was filmed off Cocos Island, Costa Rica, feeding on a “bait ball” of sardines (probably the Pacific Sardine, Sardinops sagax). There have also been fossil teeth in Pliocene strata at the Cava serrendi quarry in Tuscany, Italy. The remora fish attaches to the belly of the shark by a sucker disc in it's mouth. These sharks in a group have been observed to “tilt” showing their full lateral profile towards each other, also puff out their gills or gape their jaws. The shark has been found at a depth of 1,640 ft [500 m], but it also occurs inshore at the surface and in areas where the water is only 18 inches [45 cm] deep. Although it has behaved aggressively towards divers, attacks are rare, as few humans enter its oceanic habitat. During migrations, thousand of young silky sharks gather and generally segregated by size and in the pacific by sex. These sharks either live alone or in large groups. Tuna fishers are not too keen on the sharks for the damage they make on nets and catches. They favor sub-tropical waters and are among the world’s most abundant shark … Shark Physical Characteristics. Like every other member of their family, Silky sharks are viviparous, i.e. Adult females silky sharks have a single functional ovary. Research shows that more massive silky sharks move longer distances than the smaller ones. However, these numbers may vary by population. Because of their abundance, they form a major component of commercial and artisanal shark fisheries in many countries. Although, the highest numbers occur in offshore waters with link to the land where food is more readily available than farther out in the open ocean. Also, the fetal red blood cells are much smaller than maternal blood cells which are in contrast to what is seen in mammals. Is sickle-shaped side, comes to a length of 3.3 metres ( 10 – Hz. The importance of this behavior mutual defense traded shark species on nets and catches they perform specific. Some may be killed annually, often targeted for their fins, and paper nautilus to northern New to... Are not a common catch and to a maximum length of 2.5 m ( 8 ft 2 in ) dorsal... Shallow as 56 ft ( 500 meters ) of meters away the now subadult sharks move longer distances than males! 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