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Sharpnose smoothhound (Mustelus dorsalis) — Triakidae

Sharpnose smoothhound

Mustelus dorsalis
Family: Triakidae

The Sharpnose smoothhound (Mustelus dorsalis) is a saltwater fish of the family Triakidae that grows up to 64 cm.

Length
64 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
20.0–200.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Sharpnose smoothhound is a houndshark (Triakidae) from coastal waters of the eastern Pacific, off Central and South America. The species grows to about 64 cm and has a slender, grey-brown, streamlined body with large oval eyes and flattened molars. As a bottom-oriented hunter it lives over sand and mud bottoms of the continental shelf and crushes crabs, crustaceans and molluscs. It bears live young. It is a food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Sharpnose smoothhound?

The Sharpnose smoothhound has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Sharpnose smoothhound live?

The Sharpnose smoothhound lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Sharpnose smoothhound get?

The Sharpnose smoothhound grows to a maximum of about 64 cm.

Is the Sharpnose smoothhound dangerous to humans?

No, the Sharpnose smoothhound is harmless to humans.

Is the Sharpnose smoothhound edible?

Yes, the Sharpnose smoothhound is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Spitssnuit-gladde haai sourced
English name
Sharpnose smoothhound sourced
Scientific name
Mustelus dorsalis
Family
Triakidae
Other names
Sharp-tooth smooth hound; Sharptooth smoothhound; Sharptooth smooth-hound; Sharptooth smoot-hound verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
64.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Crescent (lunate) inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
20.0 verified
Max depth (m)
200.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Mustelus

More from the family Triakidae

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