Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) > Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks) > Triakidae (Houndsharks) > Triakinae
Etymology: Mustelus: Latin, mustela, -ae = weasel (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; demersal; depth range 5 - 624 m (Ref. 56504), usually 5 - 50 m (Ref. 244). Subtropical; 58°N - 34°S, 19°W - 36°E

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ?, range 80 - ? cm
Max length : 200 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 27000); common length : 100.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26999); max. reported age: 24 years (Ref. 30745)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0. A large, plain or black-spotted smoothhound (Ref. 5578). Uniformly grey or greyish-brown above, white below (Ref. 5578).

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions | Faunafri

Eastern Atlantic: British Isles and France to South Africa, including the Mediterranean, Madeira and the Canary Islands. Often referred to as Mustelus canis which is restricted to the western Atlantic.

Found on the continental shelves and uppermost slopes, from the intertidal region to at least 350 m depth (Ref. 244). Collected to depth of 624 m in the eastern Ionian Sea (Ref. 56504). Sometimes in midwater but prefers to swim near the bottom (Ref. 244). Feeds mainly on crustaceans, but also cephalopods and bony fishes (Ref. 244). Viviparous, with a yolk-sac placenta (Ref. 244). Taken by shore and ski-boat anglers (Ref. 5578). Utilized for human consumption, oil, and fishmeal (Ref. 244). Sexual maturity is reached at a length of 70-80 cm (Ref. 35388).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Compagno, Leonard J.V. | Collaborators

Compagno, L.J.V., 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2 - Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/2):251-655. Rome: FAO.

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)

Vulnerable (VU) (A2bd+3bd+4bd)

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: highly commercial; gamefish: yes

FAO(fisheries: production; publication : search) | FisheriesWiki | Sea Around Us

More information

Countries
FAO areas
Ecosystems
Occurrences
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Ecology
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Common names
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Predators
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Eggs
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Age/Size
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Internet sources

Estimates of some properties based on empirical models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805): PD₅₀ = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00189 (-0.05278 - 0.05656), b=3.10 (3.06 - 3.14), based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref. 93245).

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278): 3.8 ±0.5 se; Based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 69278): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (K=0.06-0.12; tm=6-15; tmax=24; Fec=4).

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): High to very high vulnerability (74 of 100) .

Price category (Ref. 80766): Medium.

Mustelus mustelus (Linnaeus, 1758)