Population structure and reproductive characteristics of the silky shark Carcharhinus falciformis (Muller & Henle, 1839) (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae) off the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico

Carcharhinus falciformis is an abundant oceanic species, which occurs in equatorial and tropical zones, with an important catch in the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Mexico. Samples were taken from December 2000 to December 2007 in four landing sites of the artisanal fleet on the coast of Oaxaca. During the period of study 1236 specimens (602 females and 634 males) of C. falciformis were registered. Total length (TL) ranged from 49 to 217 cm for females (mean = 111.3 cm) and from 59 to 265 cm for males (mean = 111.7 cm). The sex ratio of females to males was 1:1 (chi(2)(0.05) = 0.78, P > 0.05). The present data suggest a size at first sexual maturity of about 184.8 cm TL for females and 178.5 cm TL for males. The catches were composed mainly of young. In the 52 gravid females examined, the average number of embryos per female was seven; with a range of 3-14 embryos. Mean TL of embryos ranged from 10 to 66 cm with evidence of seasonal changes in the size structure. Results obtained showed that C. falciformis gives birth most of the year, with the highest proportion of births during the rainy season (May to October).