Home · Triakidae · Spotted houndshark
Spotted houndshark (Triakis maculata) — Triakidae

Spotted houndshark

Triakis maculata
Family: Triakidae

The Spotted houndshark (Triakis maculata) is a saltwater fish of the family Triakidae that grows up to 180 cm.

Length
180 cm
Water
Saltwater
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The spotted houndshark is a houndshark (Triakidae) from coastal waters of the eastern Pacific, off Peru and Chile. The species grows to about 1.8 metres and has a robust, greyish body densely covered with small dark spots. As a bottom-oriented predator it lives over sand and rocky bottoms of shallow coastal water and crushes crabs, molluscs and small fish with rounded teeth. It is not dangerous to people. It is a food fish.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Spotted houndshark?

The Spotted houndshark has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Spotted houndshark live?

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

How big does the Spotted houndshark get?

The Spotted houndshark grows to a maximum of about 180 cm.

Is the Spotted houndshark dangerous to humans?

No, the Spotted houndshark is harmless to humans.

Is the Spotted houndshark edible?

Yes, the Spotted houndshark is commonly eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gespikkelde gladde haai sourced
English name
Spotted houndshark sourced
Scientific name
Triakis maculata
Family
Triakidae
Other names
Spotted houndshark verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
180.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Crescent (lunate) inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
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 Triakis

More from the family Triakidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →