What is a Smooth-Hound?

The smooth-hound is a shark belonging to the family Triakidae, of the genus Mustelus, a Latin term meaning weasel. These slender, crab-eating fish are found in water areas ranging from 6-150 feet (2-46 m) over continental shelves in the Pacific Ocean. Smooth-hound sharks belong to the Carcharhiniformes order of ground sharks, which includes some 277 known species. They range from 45.7 inches (116 cm) to around 64.7 inches (161 cm) long with a maximum length of 4 feet (121.9 cm).

Smooth-hound sharks have two dorsal fins on top of a slim, grey-brown body. Their blunt teeth are suited to their diet of mostly crabs, shrimp and other crustaceans, small fish, and worms found in the rocks and sandy stretches of their shallow habitat. Typically their lifespan lasts from six to nine years. They are not dangerous to humans, but they will bite if provoked. Smooth-hounds roam in schools or as solitary individuals, sometimes associating with spiny dogfish and leopard sharks.

The sharks reach sexual maturity when they are about three years old and have attained a length of 29 inches (74 cm) for females and 24 inches (60 cm) for males. This species gives birth to live young instead of laying eggs. Litters average two to six pups born after ten months, usually in the spring. The baby sharks are fully capable of taking care of themselves at birth, although they are only 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) long.

Predators of smooth-hound sharks include both larger sharks such as hammerheads and blacktips as well as people. The main shark products humans use are meat, the fins for shark fin soup, cartilage, liver oil, and the teeth of some species for ornamentation. The brown smooth-hound especially is a popular game fish.

Sharks are prized aquarium fish, but they’re not for everyone. A smooth-hound needs a large saltwater tank with no sharp objects and an experienced aquarist to take proper care of it. The tank must be covered with netting or some other barrier to prevent this active swimmer from jumping out. Sharks for both public and private aquariums are not bred in captivity, but are collected in the wild. An aquarist interested in sharks can find reputable dealers of marine specimens through aquatic societies.

Many shark species are slow to recover from overfishing due to long gestation periods and low birth weights. Certain species of smooth-hound sharks in the Northeast Atlantic are more susceptible than previously thought. As scientists learn more about them, conservation efforts can get underway to protect them. Responsible collection and harvesting will ensure that smooth-hound sharks survive in numbers sufficient to maintain the balance of their ecosystems.

A Smooth-Hound is a species of shark belonging to the family Triakidae, commonly found in coastal waters. They are known for their smooth skin, lacking the rough texture typical of many sharks due to smaller, less pronounced dermal denticles. These sharks are generally small to medium-sized and are often sought after by recreational fishers.

Smooth-Hounds are widely distributed in temperate and tropical seas. They are commonly found in the Northeast Atlantic, Mediterranean, and along the coasts of South America and Africa. They prefer shallow, inshore waters and are often seen over sandy or muddy bottoms where they search for prey.

Smooth-Hounds have a diet primarily consisting of crustaceans, such as crabs and lobsters, as well as mollusks and small fish. Their strong jaws and grinding teeth are well-adapted for crushing the shells of their prey, which they locate using their acute sense of smell.

Smooth-Hounds are considered harmless to humans. They are not aggressive and have small mouths with blunt teeth that are not designed for attacking large prey. Encounters with humans are rare, and there have been no reported incidents of Smooth-Hounds posing a threat to people.

Smooth-Hounds are viviparous, meaning they give birth to live young. The embryos develop inside the mother's body, receiving nourishment from a yolk sac. After a gestation period that can vary between species, the female gives birth to a litter of pups, which are independent from birth and receive no parental care.

The conservation status of Smooth-Hounds varies by species. Some species, like the Starry Smooth-Hound, are classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List, indicating they are not currently at significant risk of extinction. However, due to fishing pressures and habitat degradation, certain populations may be under threat, necessitating careful monitoring and conservation efforts.