Brown smooth-hound (Mustelus henlei)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Mustelus henlei
- Common name
- Brown smooth-hound
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Triakidae
- Genus
- Mustelus
- Size
- 60–100 cm
- Depth
- 2–200 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- sandy-bottom, rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- pelagic, schooling
- Ocean zones
- Eastern Pacific
Description
Mustelus henlei reaches 1 m. Small shark (Triakidae) East Pacific temperate to tropical from California to Peru with slender elongated body uniformly gray-brown to bronzed-gray, pointed head with large eyes, two similar dorsal fins. Lives from 2 to 200 m on sandy and rocky coastal bottoms, bays and estuaries. Forms schools. Feeds on crustaceans and small fish. Commercially fished. Discreet dive photo subject in California and Baja California, regular encounters in sandy drifts.
Photo of Brown smooth-hound
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Brown smooth-hound?
- Brown smooth-hound (Mustelus henlei) reaches 60–100 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Brown smooth-hound?
- Brown smooth-hound is found between 2–200 m deep.
- Is the Brown smooth-hound dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Brown smooth-hound?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Brown smooth-hound?
- Found in: Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Mustelus
- Mustelus asterias - Starry smooth-hound
- Mustelus punctulatus - Blackspotted Smooth-Hound
- Mustelus mustelus - Common smooth-hound
Other species in the family Triakidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 271386)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2418357)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia