Deep-Sea taxon details
Carcharhinus falciformis (Müller & Henle, 1839)
105789 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:105789)
accepted
Species
marine, brackish, fresh, terrestrial
(of ) Müller, J.; Henle, F. G. J. (1838-1841). Systematische Beschreibung der Plagiostomen. <em>Veit und Comp., Berlin.</em> i-xxii + 1-200, 60 pls. [Pp. 1-28 published in 1838, reset pp. 27-28, 29-102 in 1839, i-xxii + 103-200 in 1841. Please note the different authors responsible for some species.]. [details]
Description Found abundantly near the edge of continental and insular shelves, but also in the open sea and occasionally inshore....
Distribution Circumtropical. Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean
Description Found abundantly near the edge of continental and insular shelves, but also in the open sea and occasionally inshore. Recorded temperatures where it occurs range from 23-24°C. It is quick-moving and aggressive. Associated with schools of tuna. Primarily feeds on fishes, but also cephalopods, and even crabs. Used in many ways with its meat eaten fresh and dried-salted; its hide for leather; its fin for shark-fin soup; its liver oil as a rich source of vitamin A. [details]
Distribution Circumtropical. Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean
Distribution Circumtropical. Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean [details]
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2025). FishBase. Carcharhinus falciformis (Müller & Henle, 1839). Accessed through: Glover, A.G.; Higgs, N.; Horton, T. (2025) World Register of Deep-Sea species (WoRDSS) at: https://www.marinespecies.org/deepsea/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=105789 on 2025-06-16
Glover, A.G.; Higgs, N.; Horton, T. (2025). World Register of Deep-Sea species (WoRDSS). Carcharhinus falciformis (Müller & Henle, 1839). Accessed at: https://marinespecies.org/deepsea/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=105789 on 2025-06-16
Date
action
by
original description
(of ) Müller, J.; Henle, F. G. J. (1838-1841). Systematische Beschreibung der Plagiostomen. <em>Veit und Comp., Berlin.</em> i-xxii + 1-200, 60 pls. [Pp. 1-28 published in 1838, reset pp. 27-28, 29-102 in 1839, i-xxii + 103-200 in 1841. Please note the different authors responsible for some species.]. [details]
context source (Deepsea) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), available online at http://www.iobis.org/ [details]
context source (HKRMS) Hong Kong marine fish database. <em>AFCD.</em> , available online at https://www.hk-fish.net/en/fish/introduction/ [details]
context source (Bermuda) Smith-Vaniz, W. F.; Collette, B. B.; Luckhurst, B. E (1999). Fishes of Bermuda: History, zoogeography, annotated checklist, and identification keys (American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists - Special Publication No.4) . ASIH, 424 pp. [details]
context source (PeRMS) Chirichigno, N.; Cornejo, M. (2001). Catálogo comentado de los peces marinos del Perú. <em>2ª ed. Instituto del Mar de Perú. Publicación Especial. Callao.</em> 314 p. [details]
basis of record van der Land, J.; Costello, M.J.; Zavodnik, D.; Santos, R.S.; Porteiro, F.M.; Bailly, N.; Eschmeyer, W.N.; Froese, R. (2001). Pisces, <B><I>in</I></B>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). <i>European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels,</i> 50: pp. 357-374 (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Robins, C. R.; Ray, G. C.; Douglass, J.; Freund, R. (1986). A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. <em>Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston.</em> 1-354. [details]
additional source Streftaris, N., A. Zenetos & E. Papathanassiou. (2005). Globalisation in marine ecosystems: the story of non-indigenous marine species across European seas. <em>Oceanogry and Marine Biology: an Annual Review.</em> 43: 419-453. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source Zenetos, A., M.E. Cinar, M.A. Pancucci-Papadopoulou, J.G. Harmelin, G. Furnari, F. Andaloro, N. Bellou, N. Streftaris & H. Zibrowius. (2005). Annotated list of marine alien species in the Mediterranean with records of the worst invasive species. <em>Mediterranean Marine Science.</em> 6 (2): 63-118., available online at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273213810_Annotated_list_of_marine_alien_species_in_the_Mediterranean_with_records_of_the_worst_invasive_species [details] Available for editors
additional source King, C.M.; Roberts, C.D.; Bell, B.D.; Fordyce, R.E.; Nicoll, R.S.; Worthy, T.H.; Paulin, C.D.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Keyes, I.W.; Baker, A.N.; Stewart, A.L.; Hiller, N.; McDowall, R.M.; Holdaway, R.N.; McPhee, R.P.; Schwarzhans, W.W.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Rust, S.; Macadie, I. (2009). Phylum Chordata: lancelets, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals. <em>in: Gordon, D.P. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia.</em> pp. 431-554. [details]
additional source McEachran, J. D. (2009). Fishes (Vertebrata: Pisces) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 1223–1316 in: Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas. [details]
additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source Zenetos, A., S. Gofas, M. Verlaque, M. Cinar, J. Garcia Raso, C. Bianchi, C. Morri, E. Azzurro, M. Bilecenoglu, C. Froglia, I. Siokou, D. Violanti, A. Sfriso, G. San Martin, A. Giangrande, T. Katagan, E. Ballesteros, A. Ramos-Espla, F. Mastrototaro, O. Ocana, A. Zingone, M,. Gambi & N. Streftaris. (2010). Alien species in the Mediterranean Sea by 2010. A contribution to the application of European Union's Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Part I. Spatial distribution. <em>Mediterranean Marine Science.</em> 11(2): 381-493., available online at https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.87 [details]
additional source Ben Rais Lasram, F.; Mouillot, D. (2008). Increasing southern invasion enhances congruence between endemic and exotic Mediterranean fish fauna. <em>Biological Invasions.</em> 11(3): 697-711., available online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9284-4 [details] Available for editors
additional source Froese, R. & D. Pauly (Editors). (2025). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. version (06/2024)., available online at https://www.fishbase.org [details]
ecology source Looby, A.; Erbe, C.; Bravo, S.; Cox, K.; Davies, H. L.; Di Iorio, L.; Jézéquel, Y.; Juanes, F.; Martin, C. W.; Mooney, T. A.; Radford, C.; Reynolds, L. K.; Rice, A. N.; Riera, A.; Rountree, R.; Spriel, B.; Stanley, J.; Vela, S.; Parsons, M. J. G. (2023). Global inventory of species categorized by known underwater sonifery. <em>Scientific Data.</em> 10(1). (look up in IMIS), available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02745-4 [details]
context source (Deepsea) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), available online at http://www.iobis.org/ [details]
context source (HKRMS) Hong Kong marine fish database. <em>AFCD.</em> , available online at https://www.hk-fish.net/en/fish/introduction/ [details]
context source (Bermuda) Smith-Vaniz, W. F.; Collette, B. B.; Luckhurst, B. E (1999). Fishes of Bermuda: History, zoogeography, annotated checklist, and identification keys (American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists - Special Publication No.4) . ASIH, 424 pp. [details]
context source (PeRMS) Chirichigno, N.; Cornejo, M. (2001). Catálogo comentado de los peces marinos del Perú. <em>2ª ed. Instituto del Mar de Perú. Publicación Especial. Callao.</em> 314 p. [details]
basis of record van der Land, J.; Costello, M.J.; Zavodnik, D.; Santos, R.S.; Porteiro, F.M.; Bailly, N.; Eschmeyer, W.N.; Froese, R. (2001). Pisces, <B><I>in</I></B>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). <i>European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels,</i> 50: pp. 357-374 (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Robins, C. R.; Ray, G. C.; Douglass, J.; Freund, R. (1986). A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. <em>Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston.</em> 1-354. [details]
additional source Streftaris, N., A. Zenetos & E. Papathanassiou. (2005). Globalisation in marine ecosystems: the story of non-indigenous marine species across European seas. <em>Oceanogry and Marine Biology: an Annual Review.</em> 43: 419-453. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source Zenetos, A., M.E. Cinar, M.A. Pancucci-Papadopoulou, J.G. Harmelin, G. Furnari, F. Andaloro, N. Bellou, N. Streftaris & H. Zibrowius. (2005). Annotated list of marine alien species in the Mediterranean with records of the worst invasive species. <em>Mediterranean Marine Science.</em> 6 (2): 63-118., available online at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273213810_Annotated_list_of_marine_alien_species_in_the_Mediterranean_with_records_of_the_worst_invasive_species [details] Available for editors
additional source King, C.M.; Roberts, C.D.; Bell, B.D.; Fordyce, R.E.; Nicoll, R.S.; Worthy, T.H.; Paulin, C.D.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Keyes, I.W.; Baker, A.N.; Stewart, A.L.; Hiller, N.; McDowall, R.M.; Holdaway, R.N.; McPhee, R.P.; Schwarzhans, W.W.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Rust, S.; Macadie, I. (2009). Phylum Chordata: lancelets, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals. <em>in: Gordon, D.P. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia.</em> pp. 431-554. [details]
additional source McEachran, J. D. (2009). Fishes (Vertebrata: Pisces) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 1223–1316 in: Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas. [details]
additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source Zenetos, A., S. Gofas, M. Verlaque, M. Cinar, J. Garcia Raso, C. Bianchi, C. Morri, E. Azzurro, M. Bilecenoglu, C. Froglia, I. Siokou, D. Violanti, A. Sfriso, G. San Martin, A. Giangrande, T. Katagan, E. Ballesteros, A. Ramos-Espla, F. Mastrototaro, O. Ocana, A. Zingone, M,. Gambi & N. Streftaris. (2010). Alien species in the Mediterranean Sea by 2010. A contribution to the application of European Union's Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Part I. Spatial distribution. <em>Mediterranean Marine Science.</em> 11(2): 381-493., available online at https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.87 [details]
additional source Ben Rais Lasram, F.; Mouillot, D. (2008). Increasing southern invasion enhances congruence between endemic and exotic Mediterranean fish fauna. <em>Biological Invasions.</em> 11(3): 697-711., available online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9284-4 [details] Available for editors
additional source Froese, R. & D. Pauly (Editors). (2025). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. version (06/2024)., available online at https://www.fishbase.org [details]
ecology source Looby, A.; Erbe, C.; Bravo, S.; Cox, K.; Davies, H. L.; Di Iorio, L.; Jézéquel, Y.; Juanes, F.; Martin, C. W.; Mooney, T. A.; Radford, C.; Reynolds, L. K.; Rice, A. N.; Riera, A.; Rountree, R.; Spriel, B.; Stanley, J.; Vela, S.; Parsons, M. J. G. (2023). Global inventory of species categorized by known underwater sonifery. <em>Scientific Data.</em> 10(1). (look up in IMIS), available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02745-4 [details]
Present Inaccurate Introduced: alien Containing type locality
Unreviewed
Description Found abundantly near the edge of continental and insular shelves, but also in the open sea and occasionally inshore. Recorded temperatures where it occurs range from 23-24°C. It is quick-moving and aggressive. Associated with schools of tuna. Primarily feeds on fishes, but also cephalopods, and even crabs. Used in many ways with its meat eaten fresh and dried-salted; its hide for leather; its fin for shark-fin soup; its liver oil as a rich source of vitamin A. [details]Distribution Circumtropical. Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean [details]
Habitat nektonic [details]
| Language | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| English | silky shark | [details] |
| German | Seidenhai | [details] |
| Japanese | クロトガリザメ | [details] |
| Lithuanian | floridinis šilkinis ryklys | [details] |
| Modern Greek (1453-) | Λείος καρχαρίνος | [details] |
| Polish | żarłacz jedwabisty | [details] |
| Spanish | tiburón pilototiburón lustrosojaquetón sedoso | [details] |
| Turkish | karayip resif köpekbalığı | [details] |
| Ukrainian | Шовкова акулаАкула сіра шовковиста | [details] |
To Barcode of Life (526 barcodes)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (26 publications)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Carcharhinus falciformis)
To FishBase
To FishBase images (Carcharhinus falciformis, Cuba, by Furlan, B.)
To Fishipedia
To GenBank (871 nucleotides; 751 proteins)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To IUCN Red List (Vulnerable)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Carcharhinus falciformis RAD100293-001)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Carcharhinus falciformis RAD100293-001)
To PESI
To ITIS
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (26 publications)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Carcharhinus falciformis)
To FishBase
To FishBase images (Carcharhinus falciformis, Cuba, by Furlan, B.)
To Fishipedia
To GenBank (871 nucleotides; 751 proteins)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To IUCN Red List (Vulnerable)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Carcharhinus falciformis RAD100293-001)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Carcharhinus falciformis RAD100293-001)
To PESI
To ITIS
