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The silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis), also known by numerous names such as blackspot shark, gray 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.
The silky shark is one of the three most common pelagic sharks along with the blue and oceanic whitetip sharks, and counts among the most numerous large oceanic animals in the world with a population of at least tens of millions.
The silky shark lives up to its name as a beautiful and elegant murderer of pelagic teleosts. The silky shark is known by many names, including the blackspot shark, sickle shark, ridgeback shark, gray whaler shark, and ‘net-eating’ shark.
Silky Shark Carcharhinus falciformis 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. This is one of the most abundant sharks of the pelagic zone (open water away from shore and surface),
Silky sharks are generalist carnivores and typically feed on various species of fish, squid, and pelagic crabs, including red crab (Pleuroncodes planipes), jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas), and chub mackerel (Scomber japonicas). Young silky sharks primarily feed upon jumbo squid, while adult silky sharks consume more red crabs and chub mackerel.
Silky sharks are smooth, sleek oceanic predators with densely packed dermal denticles that give their skin a distinct sheen. They live in the open ocean but are often found around seamounts, where schooling in their hundreds can be seen.
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.
Silky sharks, Carcharhinus falciformis, are a highly-migratory species found in subtropical waters between 40°N-40°S in the western Atlantic from Massachusetts, USA, south to southern Brazil, in the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. In the eastern Atlantic, silky sharks are found near Spain, northern Angola, and Cape Verde.
A large slim oceanic shark with a moderately long rounded snout and an interdorsal ridge. COLOR Dark brown to bronze above, white below. The shark has dusky fin tips and a faint white band on its flank. SIZE Males mature when they are about 6 or 7 years of age and attain a length of 6.1 to 7.1 ft [1.87 to 2.18 m] and may reach a length of 9.8 ...
Named for the silky appearance of its skin, silky sharks are long & slender, with a relatively short first dorsal fin, a second dorsal fin with a long free tip, and elongated pectoral fins. These pelagic sharks are found worldwide in warm & temperate waters and were once one of the most abundant sharks.