Silky shark

Photo: Jane Kempler & Andrew Goldby Freelance · CC BY-NC-ND

Silky sharks are the most abundant oceanic shark in the world's tropical seas and are the dominant large predator at Leven Bank, often present in groups of 10 to 30 individuals circling the seamount at mid-water depths. They feed primarily on schooling fish and squid, frequently associating with tuna schools to exploit the same prey aggregations. Their smooth, silky skin texture gives them their common name. Like many pelagic sharks, they are caught as bycatch in industrial tuna fisheries at a rate that has caused significant population decline across their range.