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Deepseawaters
Home Deep
Sea SharksGray Smoothhound
Gray Smoothhound
Common Name: Gray Smoothhound
Scientific Name: Mustelus californicus
Description
The
body of the gray smoothhound is elongate,
slender, tapering from behind the dorsal fin to a long slender
tail. The snout is comparatively long and flattened. The color
is brown to dark gray above and whitish below. The gray
smoothhound can be distinguished from other smoothhounds
by scales present on the posterior one-fifth of the dorsal
fin and the teeth having sharp points.
Range
This
species occurs from Mazatlan, Mexico, to Cape Mendocino, California;
and is found in shallow waters to depths of 150 feet.
Natural History
The
diet of the gray smoothhound includes crabs,
shrimp and small fishes. The female bears the young alive.
Fishing Information
Although
the gray smoothhound is of relatively minor
importance to sport anglers, it is commonly taken in the surf.
It is edible, but not as tasty as the brown smoothhound. If
you're fishing in southern California, you are most likely
to catch a gray, and in central California, you are most likely
to catch a brown smoothhound.
Other Common Names
shark,
dogfish, paloma, sand shark, gray shark
Largest Recorded
5
feet 4.25 inches; no weight recorded
Habitat
Shallow
Sandy Environment
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