Silky Shark

Overview

Named for its smooth, silky skin texture. One of the most abundant large oceanic sharks, often found around offshore seamounts and fish aggregating devices. Highly vulnerable to tropical tuna longline bycatch.

Habitat

The shark is found near edges of continental and insular shelves as well as the open sea. The shark has been found at a depth of 1,640 ft [500 m], but it also occurs inshore at the surface and in areas where the water is only 18 inches [45 cm] deep. The shark, abundant offshore and inshore, is oceanic, epipelagic and littoral. This species prefers sea temperatures from 73.5º to 75ºF [23º to 24ºC].

Distribution

Circumtropical.

Behavior

This is an active, fast and aggressive shark. It is frequently found with schools of tuna. The shark will give way to an Oceanic whitetip shark - Carcharhinus longimanus.