Overview

Silky sharks have a slender, fusiform body with a long, pointed snout and large, widely spaced eyes. Their coloration is a distinctive bluish gray to bronze on the dorsal side, fading to white on the ventral side. They are distinguished from other similar species, such as the oceanic whitetip shark, by their lack of a white tip on their first dorsal fin and their slenderer body shape.  

Silky sharks are commonly found in:

1. Australia
2. South Africa
3. New Zealand
4. Japan
5. United States
6. Brazil
7. Mexico
8. Chile
9. Portugal
10. Spain
11. Italy
12. France
13. United Kingdom
14. Ireland
15. Norway

Over the past 61 years, there have been 3 recorded attacks by silky sharks. Of these attacks, they have occurred at sea and at the following beaches:

• Biscayne National Park
• Singer Island Municipal Beach
• Arinaga

Size and Weight

• Size: Males average between 7-8.5 feet when mature; females average between 7.5-9 feet when mature
• Weight: Males typically weigh 140-180 pounds; females typically weigh 180-220 pounds
• Swimming speed: Both sexes can reach speeds of up to 25 mph

Interaction with Humans

• Interaction with Humans: Generally curious but not aggressive; may approach divers closely
• Avoidance: Stay out of warm, offshore waters; avoid areas with schools of tuna or other prey fish
• Activity: Most active at night and during twilight hours

Lifespan and Diet

• Lifespan: Males generally live 20-22 years; females generally live 22-25 years
• Diet: Primarily fish (especially tuna) and squid; hunts by making swift, vertical attacks on schooling prey

Migratory Patterns

Silky sharks are highly migratory. They typically start in tropical and subtropical waters near the equator, moving towards higher latitudes in both hemispheres during summer months. In the eastern Pacific, they migrate from the coast of Central America to areas off California and as far as Hawaii. In the western Atlantic, they move from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea northward along the U.S. east coast. Some populations in the Indian Ocean migrate between Somalia and South Africa. These sharks often follow warm currents and may travel thousands of kilometers annually.