Like blue sharks, there are times when silkies are wary and other times when their sense of curiosity is stronger than their sense of caution. As with blues and many other sharks, silky sharks are often bold, fast to respond, and competitive when food is offered. Silkies are fast swimmers that often make darting movements when excited. Silky sharks are commonly seen by North American divers at popular destinations such as the Gulf of Mexico, southern end of Mexico’s Sea of Cortez and Revillagigedos archipelago, Costa Rica’s Cocos Island, and the northern sector of Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands.
FAMILY: Like blue sharks, silky sharks are requiem sharks, thus they are members of the family Carcharhinidae.
GENUS AND SPECIES: Carcharhinus falciformis
DESCRIPTION: The body of a silky shark is gray to almost black on the back and upper part of the sides and off-white on the lower sides, belly, and underside of the snout. The body lacks distinctive markings. The second dorsal fin is considerably smaller than the first dorsal fin, and the pectoral fins are long and narrow. The snout is elongated and more rounded than is the case with some sharks. The teeth in the upper jaw of a silky shark have a triangular shape, and they are relatively long and serrated. The teeth in the lower jaw are not as sharply serrated.