Silky Shark

• The body is large and slim with a moderately long, rounded snout, large eyes, and small jaws.
• Coloration can vary greatly in this species. The dorsal surface may have a bronze tint and can range in color from dark brown to blue-gray or dark gray. The ventral surface is white.
• Defining characteristics include small, densely-packed dermal denticles and notched, or serrated, teeth.
• The size and density of the dermal denticles give the shark’s skin a smooth or “silky” texture.
• The first dorsal fin is small and rounded. The second dorsal fin is small with a long, trailing tip. Pectoral fins are elongated and sickle-shaped.
• Common length for adult females is 7-7.5 feet (2.1-2.3 m); common length for adult males is 6-7 feet (2-2.1 m).
• The maximum recorded length is 11.5 feet (3.5 m).
• The maximum recorded weight is 802 pounds (364 kg).

• Generalist carnivore; diet consists of various species of fish, squid, pelagic crabs, nautilus and chub mackerel.
• Variation in their diet depends on the abundance and availability of prey. Opportunistic feeder when prey abundance is low, often consuming a wide variety of prey from different habitats and depths in the open ocean.
• Juveniles feed primarily on jumbo squid while adults feed on red crabs, chub mackerel, yellowfin tuna, albacore, mullet and porcupine fish.
• Highly migratory species, often following the movements of schooling fish such as tuna.

• Occurs in tropical and subtropical waters in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.
• Western Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to southern Brazil including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea to Uruguay.
• Eastern Atlantic Ocean from Madeira, Spain to northern Angola, S. Paul’s Rocks, and Cape Verde.
• Western Indian and the Red Sea from Tanzania to Mozambique including Madagascar and the Comoros.
• Eastern Indian Ocean from the Maldives and Sri Lanka to western Australia.
• Indo-Pacific from China to New Zealand and the Caroline, Hawaiian, Phoenix, and Line Islands.
• Eastern Pacific Ocean from southern Baja California, Mexico to northern Chile.
• Highly migratory species.
• Found on continental and insular shelves, over deep water reefs and in open ocean, slope and shallow, coastal waters at depths between 60-165 feet (18-50 m).
• Prefers warmer waters of about 74°F (23°C)

• Reproductive maturity is reached at 7-9 years of age and 7-7.5 feet (2-2.3 m) in length in females; 6-7 years and 6-7 feet (1.8-2.1 m) in males.
• Sharks in the Indian Ocean and in the Pacific Ocean achieve maturity at younger ages and at smaller sizes than sharks in other areas (approximately two years younger and 1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 m) shorter).
• Viviparous; give birth to live young.
• Breeding takes place year-round in tropical waters and in summer months (June, July and August) in warm-temperate waters.
• The average gestation period is 12 months.
• Litter number varies by geographic location, litter size can range between 2-14 pups.
• Pups may spend the first few months of life near reefs or in nursery areas until their first winter when they move to the open ocean.

• Listed as “Vulnerable” on The IUCN Red List.

www.fishbase.org

www.iucnredlist.org

www.arkive.org

www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu

www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish

www.animaldiversity.org

Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia. Thoney, D. A. and Loiselle, P. V.

Sharks and Rays of Australia. Last and Stevens