Species: Carcharhinus falciformis, Silky shark

Carcharhinus falciformis (Müller & Henle, 1839)

Silky shark

Slender-bodied (body depth 11.5-17.5% of TL); snout flat and rounded, < mouth width; large round eyes; top teeth serrated on tip (fine) and base (coarse), straight (at front) to slightly oblique (on sides of jaws), with notch on outer side, narrow points, lower teeth with narrow points; a low, narrow ridge on back between dorsal fins; origin of first dorsal fin behind free rear tips of pectoral fin; first dorsal fin small, low, (height 5.2-9.9% of TL), with narrowly rounded tip and convex rear edge; origin of second dorsal ~ over anal origin; 2nd dorsal < anal fin, both low (height ~1/2 length) with long free rear tips; pectoral long, narrow, curved; tail base without keel; tail fin strongly asymmetrical, with well developed lower lobe, undulating ridge along dorsal surface of top lobe, and a notch under tip of that lobe.