Sharks
Silky Shark
Carcharhinus falciformis · Cartilaginous fish — family Carcharhinidae
Silkies are the open ocean's welcoming committee. Hang beneath a liveaboard at Daedalus or in Cuba's Jardines de la Reina and they appear from nowhere — slender, bronze-backed sharks with long tail lobes, carving smooth circles a fin's length away. Few species close distance so readily, and few wear their curiosity so plainly; a safety stop can turn into twenty minutes of orbiting escort. They are also among the most heavily fished sharks on Earth, hauled up in vast numbers on tuna longlines and purse seines, which makes the confident crowds at protected seamounts feel like dispatches from an older ocean.
Onde e quando ver um
"Residente" significa que a maioria dos mergulhos naquele destino os encontra; "sazonal" significa presença confiável nos meses listados; qualquer outra coisa é um bônus, não um plano.
| Destino | Fiabilidade | Meses | Notas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cocos IslandCosta Rica | Resident — seen on most dives | Todo o ano | |
| Socorro & the RevillagigedosMexico | Resident — seen on most dives | Todo o ano | |
| Jardines de la ReinaCuba | Resident — seen on most dives | Todo o ano | |
| MalpeloColombia | Resident — seen on most dives | Todo o ano | |
| Brothers, Daedalus & St John'sEgypt | Seasonal — reliable in season | May–Oct |
Melhor mês, em resumo
Entendendo-os
Habitat: Warm open ocean over deep water; gathers around seamounts, offshore reefs, drifting objects, and anchored boats
Distribuição: Circumtropical — one of the most abundant large sharks of the world's warm offshore waters, from the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific to the Red Sea and central Pacific
Comportamento: Fast, sleek, and inquisitive, named for the fine, smooth texture of its skin. Silkies materialize around boats and safety stops in open water, circling divers closely and persistently, especially toward dusk. Around baitballs they switch to quick, slashing runs.
Dieta: Schooling fish such as tuna and mackerel, plus squid; often follows baitballs and tuna schools
Tamanho: normalmente cerca de 2.2 m; documentado até 3.3 m (total length).
Como se comportar perto de um
Keep the group compact during drifting safety stops, avoid low-light surface swims where silkies are working bait, and never spearfish from a liveaboard mooring they patrol.
Conservação
Vulnerable and declining — silkies are the most common shark in the global fin trade and dominate tuna-fishery bycatch. CITES Appendix II listing now regulates international trade.
Pontos mapeados conhecidos por eles
Assista
Dos canais oficiais
Best Places to Dive with Whale Sharks
Outrageously Tiny Fish
Sink or Swim? with Monét X Change | Monterey Bay Aquarium
Os vídeos são links incorporados dos próprios canais dos criadores — não hospedamos nada e creditamos tudo.