Silky Shark

Carcharhinus falciformis

Phylum

Chordata

 Silky Shark

Class

Chondrichthyes

Order

Carcharhiniformes

Family

Carcharhinidae

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common names :

Silky shark, Sickle shark.
Diet : Small fish and squid.
Reproduction : Viviparous : Females give birth to between 6 and 14 live young per litter, each measuring around 80 centimetres in length. Adults reach sexual maturity at 2.2 metres.
Size : Maximum 3.3 metres  Average female 2.6 metres Average male 2.45 metres

 

Distribution of Silky Shark Distribution : Worldwide in tropical, sub-tropical and warm temperate seas. Occasionally found close to shore, but these tend to be only juveniles. Adults are found in the open oceans from the surface to depths of 500 metres. They are the most common oceanic sharks along with the Blue shark and Oceanic whitetip sharks.

 

Danger to man : Potentially dangerous. No attacks have been recorded by this shark, although it is probably responsible for many deaths after plane and boats disasters. 
Economic Importance : Commercially fished for it's fins, liver, flesh and skin. It can cause considerable damage to the nets and catches of tuna-fisherman and has earned itself the nickname of  the 'net-eater' shark in some parts of the Pacific.
Other Comments : None.