Silvertip shark

Silvertip shark merman, given the lack of claspers this merman shark likely possess instead a single member hidden somewhere in the area between his pectoral fins.

Both intimidating and beautiful are these merfolk. Highly inquisitive and social they are, though one would never know it seeing how almost all the older merfolk are terribly scarred from fights amongst themselves. Learn to understand them and any other merfolk should be able to avoid conflict with these formidable fighters. Like most shark species their mermaids are particularly fierce.

The newly turned adults will often stay close to shores and the bright waters of the sunlight zone. The older merfolk will descend into the twilight zone to stake out a coral shelf's drop off zone which is usually found around isolated tropical islands.

Once their territory is claimed they tend to live peacefully and pleasantly with other merfolk, save for their tendency to snatch other menfolk's pray. Should another silvertip merfolk enter their territory, it is advised to stay clear for a brawl will likely ensue.

Should you enter the territory of a Silvertip, don't be alarmed if these merfolk rush towards you and intrude on your personal space. First impressions are important with this veriety. To gain their respect remaining still and retaining eye contact. For Silvertips this is the polite thing to do.

Take note that this shark likes to have sex like most others of their kind. And that is rough. Females, enjoy domination while male's will bite, and they might bite hard in their excitement.

There are a few tricks that work for most sharks. A good kiss on the lips or just above it and they'll swoon on you. Push them upside down and the'll fall into a daze, though that is no easy feat.

Many complaints have arrises over the years against these sharks for attacking innocent merfolk, it is surprisingly often their local merfolk community who come to their defence, claiming the victim may have slighted or provoked the local silvertip.

Ironically an overwhelming majority of complaints towards this species, comes from their own kind, which tend to go ignored. It is only for particularly sever crimes that a school of older silver tip mermaids will arrive to judge the case and deal out punishment.

Shark characteristics in detail

Appearance & features

Not to be confused with the Oceanic White tip shark or white tipped reef sharks.

Silvertip sharks are large among the larger and bulkier sharks that may grow up to 3m (10 feet) and may weigh 160kg (350 pounds). They have a bronze-sheen to their silver-blue hide and white underbellies. The upper lobe of their causal fin and pectoral fins are proportionately longer than many other sharks and their most distinguishing features are the white contours along their fins.

They have large round eyes with slit pupils, which offer them a keen sight in clear waters, but permits also for good vision in dark, murky oceans. Like many other sharks, they have good hearing and a noes sharp sense of smell, especially attuned to blood. Furthermore, with their lateral line and electroreceptors on their snouts they have a keen sense for vibrations and electromagnetic fields in the water to sharpen their spacial awareness.

Behaviour

Silvertips Sharks tend to keep their distance from other Silvertip sharks for they often end up in conflict with their own kind, only on occasionally roaming an area in a pair. Silvertip sharks are aggressive and territorial predators and will frequently establish their superiority over other equally sized sharks when competing for food.

Never the less, these are social creatures and will often school with other sharks or largish fish like smaller grey reef sharks or dolphins when in open waters.

When these sharks do get together to mate in their tropical waters during the summer months. They enjoy rough sex in typical shark fashion, and have cloaca and claspers. Additionally, males have muscular blades connected to their claspers which allow them to flush seawater through the cloaca to wash away remaining seamen from other mates. The underside of their snouts are very sensitive and they may swoon upon being touched there. The females will carry their young inside their belly for an entire year before giving birth to a handful of live pups. Note: merfolk have been recorded to have any number of variation to their genitals.

They often roam coral shelves, but older sharks venture more frequently into deeper waters to form a range of 30-800m (100-2600feet) in depth. Take note that on occasion groups of female Silvertip sharks may be encountered in pelagic (open) waters.

The only times fully grown Sivlertip sharks are encountered in shallow waters are to get their hides cleaned of parasites by dedicated fish such as Rainbow Wrasse.

These sharks also possess a heartening amount of curiosity and boldness for strangers to its waters. Merfolk need not be alarmed if these sharks suddenly rush your way, and eye you closely. Less pleasantly they are known to circle and pursue strangers of interest. In such cases caution is counciled, remain stationary and retain sight of the shark at all times. Aggressive or provocative behaviour such as flailing, is unwise when dealing with these creatures.

What set this shark apart from all other's of it's ilk is its threat display. When feeling threatened this shark will much like other sharks rush away, then turn to chargrills at its aggressor. It will then break before collision. Uniquely to this species it will turn its body broadside, lower its pectoral and caudal fins, open its jaws then shiver. Showing off the iconic white borders of its fins.

Should a merfolk be the target of such a threat display it is advised to stop whatever you're doing to provoking this creature, for it is no foe to scoff at.

Diet & the Food chain

Silvertip sharks are apex predators in their waters and feed primarily on fish, eagle rays and octopus in their reef as well as smaller sharks. At nightlight it will depart from the reef to hunt squid in more open waters.

The most formidable predator of the Silvertip shark are humans who prise them highly for their beautiful fins, but also for their hide, cartilage and teeth and jaws and will often catch them using trawls, longlines or gillnets.

Many fish use the rough shark hides to rub off parasites from their scales. Rainbow-runners among their number.