Mustelus palumbes (Whitespot smoothhound)

Smith, 1957

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

Mustelus palumbes (Whitespot smoothhound) [Illustration by Ann Hecht ©]

Identification

A grey smoothhound with a line of small white spots on its body, underside white.

Size

To 1.2 m TL.

Range

Almost entire coast, from Namibia to central Natal. Endemic.

Habitat

Varying from close inshore off sandy beaches to the upper slope down to 443 m.

Biology

Common. Bears up to 6 young, no placenta. Eats mostly crabs, lobsters, shrimp, mud shrimp, mantis shrimp, hermit crabs, mysids, and other crustaceans but also octopi, bony fish, and fish offal.

Human Impact

Commonly caught by anglers and commercial trawlers.

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