Silky Shark

About the Silky Shark

A part of the Carcharhiniformes (ground sharks) family, Silky sharks are the largest members, reaching up to 346 kilograms/762.8 lbs and 3.5 metres/11 ft 5.8 in in length. On average, females range from 2.1 to 2.3 metres/6 ft 10.7 in to 7 ft 6.6 in in length, and males 1.8 to 2.1 metres/5 ft 10.9 in to 6 ft 10.7 in. Named for their smooth, soft skin, Silky Sharks are also distinctive due to their teeth shape which is finely serrated, unlike other species of sharks which are concave in shape.

Silky sharks are mostly found in the coastal and oceanic waters of tropical oceans, mainly at temperatures above 23°C. This species has been found at depths of up to 500 metres/1,640.4 ft, and records show that they have been seen in waters as shallow as 18 meters/59 ft.

Biology and Behaviour

Silky Sharks favour sub-tropical waters and are the world’s most abundant shark species. They are highly migratory sharks but have been known to concentrate in the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Mexico, and along the coast of southern Baja California. Populations of Silky Sharks in the Pacific and Indian Oceans also take part in migratory patterns by moving toward slightly higher latitudes during the summer months. Those located in the Atlantic Ocean tend to move with the Gulf Stream and the migrations of tuna, their primary food source.

Silky sharks are known for their quick and aggressive behaviour and have been seen performing threat displays in which they raise their head, arch their back, and lower their tail. Several shark species display this behaviour in situations dealing with the territory, mates, and predators. They are generalist carnivores and typically feed on various species of fish, squid, and pelagic crabs.

Reproduction and Lifespan

On average, Silky Sharks live to be 23 years of age and it is estimated it can live to up to 25 years in the wild. Reproductive maturity is reached at 7 to 9 years of age and 2.1 to 2.3 metres/6 ft 10.7 in to 7 ft 6.6 in in length in females, and 6 to 7 years and 1.8 to 2.1 metres /5 ft 10.9 in to 6 ft 10.7 in in males.

In tropical waters, Silky Sharks breed year-round, and in warm-temperate waters, such as the Gulf of Mexico, silky sharks breed only during the summer months (June, July, and August). They breed every two years and typically produce between two and 14 live offspring per litter. They are oviparous, meaning egg laying.

Conservation and Tourism

Silky Shark is one of the three most traded shark species in the global shark fin trade. They are also among the most common by-catch species in the tuna fishing process and are one of the most common sources of cleaned and dried shark jaws sold to tourists in tropical countries. The weighted global population trend estimated a 47-54% decline over three generations, giving the Silky Shark a global status of Vulnerable on the IUCN Redlist.

Silky Shark is a member of the family Carcharhinidae, which is listed on Annex I, Highly Migratory Species, of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. They were listed on the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) under Appendix II in 2014. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by 38 countries in 2010 for migratory sharks, and Silky Shark was added to the MOU in February 2016.

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. The meat of Silky Shark is used for human consumption, the fins are taken for the shark fin trade, the skin has been processed for leather and the liver has been used for liver oil (for its high vitamin A content in this species). The weighted global population trend estimated a 47-54% decline over three generations.

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Silky Shark Gallery