Mustelus mustelus (Smoothhound)

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Chondrichthyes > Elasmobranchii > Galeomorphii > Carcharhiniformes > Triakidae

Mustelus mustelus (Smoothhound) [Illustration by Ann Hecht ©]

Identification

A large plain or black-spotted smoothhound, underside white.

Size

To 1.6 m TL.

Range

West and east coast from Namibia to Natal; also widespread in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea.

Habitat

Open coast and shallow enclosed bays, from the surfline to the outer shelf. Reported to 350 m in the tropics, but here mostly in less than 100 m depth.

Biology

Bears 4 to 15 young, which have a placenta. It feeds mainly on crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and mantis shrimp, but also on cephalopods and bony fishes.

Human Impact

Frequently caught by shore and ski boat anglers, but little-utilized.

Text by Leonard J.V. Compagno, David A. Ebert and Malcolm J. Smale