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Narrownose smooth hound (Mustelus schmitti) — Triakidae

Narrownose smooth hound

Mustelus schmitti
Family: Triakidae
CR · Critically Endangered

The Narrownose smooth hound (Mustelus schmitti) is a saltwater fish of the family Triakidae that grows up to 92 cm.

Length
92 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
60.0–195.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Southwest Atlantic; continental shelf around southern South America.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The narrownose smooth-hound is a small houndshark of the family Triakidae from the south-western Atlantic around southern South America. The species grows to about 92 cm and has a slender, greyish body, often with small white spots. It lives on the bottom of the continental shelf and feeds mainly on crabs and other crustaceans, and presumably small fishes; the blunt teeth are adapted to crushing shellfish. Reproduction is aplacental viviparous. Owing to heavy fishing in a small range the species is listed as Critically Endangered (CR). It is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Narrownose smooth hound?

The Narrownose smooth hound has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a spots pattern. Blunt molars to crack crustaceans; critically endangered small smooth-hound.

Where does the Narrownose smooth hound live?

The Narrownose smooth hound lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Southwest Atlantic; continental shelf around southern South America.

How big does the Narrownose smooth hound get?

The Narrownose smooth hound grows to a maximum of about 92 cm. On average the species is around 60 cm.

Is the Narrownose smooth hound dangerous to humans?

No, the Narrownose smooth hound is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Narrownose smooth hound edible?

Yes, the Narrownose smooth hound is commonly eaten.

More photos

Narrownose smooth hound (Mustelus schmitti) — Triakidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — JLfish (CC0)
Narrownose smooth hound (Mustelus schmitti) — Triakidae — 3
Mauricio Silvera (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Narrownose smooth hound (Mustelus schmitti) — Triakidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Analía Belaus (CC0)
Narrownose smooth hound (Mustelus schmitti) — Triakidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Ezequiel Vera, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Narrownose smooth hound verified
Scientific name
Mustelus schmitti
Family
Triakidae
Other names
Narrownose smooth-hound verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
92.0 verified
Average length (cm)
60.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Crescent (lunate) inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
60.0 verified
Max depth (m)
195.0 verified
Natural range
Southwest Atlantic; continental shelf around southern South America. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Crabs and other crustaceans, probably small fishes sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Blunt molars to crack crustaceans; critically endangered small smooth-hound. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

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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