Silky shark

Taxobox
name = Silky shark
status = LR/lc | status_system = IUCN2.3
trend = unknown


image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Chondrichthyes
subclassis = Elasmobranchii
ordo = Carcharhiniformes
familia = Carcharhinidae
genus = "Carcharhinus"
species = "C. falciformis"
binomial = "Carcharhinus falciformis"
binomial_authority = (Müller & Henle, 1839)
range_

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range_map_width = 250px
range_map_caption = Range of silky sharkThe silky shark, "Carcharhinus falciformis", is a large pelagic shark of tropical and warm temperate seas.

Distribution

This species is found worldwide in tropical and warm temperate >convert|23|C|F seas. It is usually pelagic, but sometimes approaches the coast, especially at remote offshore islands. It is found to depths of up to convert|4000|m|ft|-3.

Appearance

This shark has a large 'typical' shark body, slender with 'silky' smooth skin. It is brown-grey dorsally and white below with no special markings. It can be distinguished from other sharks by the second dorsal fin, which has a very long free tip at the rear, about two and a half times the fin height. The first dorsal fin is also farther back than on any other carcharhiniform, beginning behind the pectoral fins.cite book|author= Castro, Jose I.|date=1996|title=The Sharks of North American Waters|publisher= Texas A&M University Press|location=College Station|pages=132]

The maximum size is convert|3.3|m|ft|0, but the length is usually not more than convert|2.4|m|ft|0.

Diet

The silky shark is a predator. It feeds mainly on inshore and pelagic bony fishes, but also eats squid and pelagic crab.

Behaviour

. It may be more common close to shore than the blue and oceanic whitetip sharks, but it is still a pelagic shark, and quite rarely seen close to shore. The silky shark will most likely be found on reefs which have deep dropoffs.

Silky sharks are not generally dangerous to divers, but in the presence of speared fish or if approached directly they can become aggressive, and therefore should be considered a potentially dangerous shark.

Reproduction

(young fed "in utero" by a placental sac), with a litter size varying from 2 to 14. They are approximately 80 cm long at birth. Sexual maturity is reached near a length of about convert|2.2|m|ft|1 for females and convert|2.0|m|ft|01 for males.

Notes

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
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* Castro, Jose I. 1996. "The Sharks of North American Waters". Texas A&M University Press: College Station, pg 132.

External links

* [http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?genusname=Carcharhinus&speciesname=falciformis Fishbase info on Silky shark]