Grey smooth-hound
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| Mustelus californicus Gill, 1864 |
The grey smooth-hound, Mustelus californicus, is a houndshark of the family Triakidae, found on the continental shelves of the subtropical eastern Pacific from northern California to the Gulf of California between latitudes 40° N and 23° N, from the surface to 200 m. Its length is up to 1.24 m.
The grey smooth-hound is a common inshore and offshore shark found on the continental shelves, and entering shallow muddy bays. It feeds mostly on crabs, including cancrids and grapsids, ghost shrimp, innkeeper (echiuroid) worms (Urechis), and small fish (herring and midshipmen, Porichthys). It is utilized for human consumption.
Reproduction is viviparous, with 2 to 5 pups per litter, and length at birth about 30 cm.
Coloration is uniformly grey or greyish-brown above, white below.
[edit] References
- "Mustelus californicus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. July 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Compagno, Dando, & Fowler, Sharks, Collins Gem, HarperCollins, London 2006) ISBN 0-00-721986-5
