Starry smooth-hound (Mustelus asterias)

Scientific name: Mustelus asterias Cloquet, 1821

Starry smooth-hound (Mustelus asterias)

The Starry smooth-hound (Mustelus asterias) is a marine fish of the family Triakidae. Native range: Northeast Atlantic, British Isles and North Sea to Canary Islands, including the Mediterranean and Mauritania.

Biology

A common inshore and offshore shark found on the continental and insular shelves from the intertidal down to at least 100 m. Prefers sandy and gravelly bottom. Feeds primarily on crustaceans (crabs, hermit crabs, lobsters and slipper lobsters). Ovoviviparous (aplacental), with 7 to 15 young per litter. Size at birth about 30 cm. Utilized fresh and dried salted.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Mustelus asterias
Family
Triakidae (Houndsharks)
Order
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
140
Depth range
350 m (1148 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 350 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Northeast Atlantic: British Isles and North Sea to Canary Islands, including the Mediterranean and Mauritania.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (tm=2-3; Fec=7)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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