Did you know there are over 500 known species of sharks? After our blog about whale sharks, I would like to introduce another interesting shark to you: the silky shark! Maybe not as iconic as the whale shark, but the silky shark is an interesting predator. Silky sharks are part of the research carried out by our partners at Saving the Blue, and ProShot & Tidal Sports sponsor their tagging program.
Anatomy
The silky shark, also known as “Carcharhinus falciformis”, is known by other common names such as olive shark, blackspot shark, or sickle shark. They can be found in tropical and warm-temperate waters around the world. The silky shark has a long, slender body that is dark gray or brown on the top and lighter on the bottom. It has a pointed snout, large eyes, and a first dorsal fin that is shorter than other shark species. They typically grow to about 2.5m long, females being usually larger than males.
Feeding habits
The silky shark is an efficient hunter that feeds on a variety of prey, including bony fish, squid, octopus, and crustaceans. The silky shark will often follow schools of tuna or other fish, waiting for an opportunity to attack. While silky sharks don’t necessarily travel in groups, they have been observed hunting in schools in order to attack schools of other fish such as tunas, mackerels, or sardines. They have highly developed hearing, making them excellent at finding and tracking prey.
Given their size and sharp teeth, silky sharks have few predators, such as bigger shark species and orcas.
Habitat and reproduction
The silky shark is found in tropical and warm-temperate waters around the world. It prefers to live in open waters and is often found near the surface. While they can go much deeper, studies show they are mainly found up to 50m deep. Silky sharks enjoy warmer waters and usually live in areas with water temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius. The silky shark is known to travel long distances, and some individuals have been known to travel up to 60 km per day.
Female silky sharks gestate for about a year and usually give birth to a litter of a dozen live young silky sharks. These young silky sharks tend to stay in shallower reefs for protection and food until they are big enough to explore the open oceans!
Conservation status
The silky shark is listed as "Near Threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Silky sharks are often caught as by-catch by fishing boats because of their feeding habits. The silky shark is also hunted for its meat, fins, and oil.
The silky shark is a fascinating and important species that plays a crucial role in its ecosystem, like every apex predator in the ocean ecosystem. Silky shark populations have decreased steeply in the last decades, and limiting the amount of bycatch is crucial to their survival. Research projects to understand their habitats and habits better, such as the tagging carried out by Saving the Blue are important for their protection.
In our next shark post, we will look into another shark species, stay tuned!
