Facts about Silky Shark

1. 07

   Estimates suggest silky sharks consume approximately 3 percent of their body weight daily in fish, squid, and crustaceans while patrolling tropical waters.

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2. 06

   In response to overfishing pressures, several countries including Brazil and Mexico have implemented fishing restrictions on silky sharks since the early 2000s to protect declining populations.

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3. 05

   Dorsal fins of silky sharks display a distinctive curved or falciform shape that gives the species its scientific name Carcharhinus falciformis, meaning sickle-shaped.

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4. 04

   Silky sharks possess a specialized sensory organ called the ampulla of Lorenzini that detects electrical fields as weak as five billionths of a volt generated by muscle contractions in prey.

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5. 03

   Silky sharks are among the most commercially harvested shark species, with annual catches exceeding 750,000 individuals due to demand for their fins in Asian markets.

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6. 02

   Carcharhinus falciformis mothers give birth to 2-14 live pups per litter after a gestation period of approximately 12 months.

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7. 01

   The silky shark can reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour and inhabits tropical oceans between 25 degrees north and south latitude worldwide.

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