Fauna
Fish

Dusky Smooth-hound

Mustelus canis

Also known as Smooth Dogfish, Dog Shark, Atlantic Smooth Dogfish

Dusky smooth-hounds are slender coastal ground sharks that undertake extensive seasonal migrations along the western Atlantic seaboard, retreating to deep offshore shelf waters during winter. Instead of sharp, serrated cutting teeth, they possess broad, blunt pavement teeth specialized for grinding down hard-shelled crustaceans. Females produce litters of live pups nourished via a true placental connection, nursing between four and twenty offspring every one to two years.

CoastalMigratoryCarnivorous
Dusky Smooth-hound reference1 / 7
(c) José Garrido, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyBlue Crab, American Lobster, Atlantic Menhaden
Predators
  • Sandbar Shark
  • Great White Shark
  • Dusky Shark
ThreatsCommercial and recreational fishing bycatch, habitat degradation
HabitatsCoastal bays, shallow estuaries, continental shelves
Life span10–16 years (males up to 10 years, females up to 16 years)
Classification
  1. OrderCarcharhiniformes
  2. FamilyTriakidae
  3. GenusMustelus
  4. SpeciesMustelus canis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Docile and harmless to swimmers, but strong crushing jaws can pinch or break skin if handled.
Why it is dangerous
Possesses dense, pavement-like tooth plates backed by powerful jaw muscles capable of severely pinching fingers and bruising bone.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for a uniform olive-gray back, pale belly, smooth skin, and dorsal fins lacking any defensive spines.
What to do
Keep hands clear of the mouth and unhook incidental catches quickly using long-handled release tools.
What to notice
Recognizable by an elongated snout, cat-like oval eyes, and two large, spineless dorsal fins of similar size.
Support conservation
Minimize air exposure when releasing bycatch and support coastal nursery protection programs.
Responsible observation
  • Viewing Season: Look for them gliding over sandy shallows and estuaries from late spring through autumn.
  • Safe Release: Use pliers to extract hooks quickly and support the body horizontally without holding the tail alone.
Related species
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