Author: (Bibron, 1839)
FBname: Silky shark
Comments: Found abundantly near the edge of continental and insular shelves, but also in the open sea and occasionally inshore (Ref. 244).  Often found in deepwater reefs and near insular slopes (Ref. 244).  Littoral and epipelagic, in the open sea or near the bottom at 18-500 m (Ref. 58302).  It is quick-moving and aggressive (Ref. 244).  Solitary (Ref. 26340); often associated with schools of tuna (Ref. 244).  Feeds mainly on fishes, but also squid, paper nautiluses, and pelagic crabs (Ref. 244; 37816).  Viviparous (Ref. 50449).  Regarded as dangerous to humans (Ref. 9997).  Flesh utilized fresh and dried-salted for human consumption; its hide for leather; its fin for shark-fin soup; its liver for oil (Ref. 244).  2 to 14 young, 73 to 87 cm, are born per litter (Ref. 1602).