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Dusky smooth-hound (Mustelus canis) fish species and information / pictures of Dusky smooth-hound - Mustelus canis

Dusky smooth-hound (Mustelus canis) fish species information

Scientific Name
Mustelus canis

Common Name
Dusky smooth-hound

Biology
Found on continental and insular shelves and upper slopes, ranging from shallow inshore waters and the intertidal to 200 m, occasionally down to 579 m (Ref. 244). Occasionally found in freshwater. It is doubtful that this species can live in fresh water for an extended period of time (Ref. 244). Feeds on large crustaceans, mainly crabs, but also heavily on lobsters (Homarus) (Ref. 244). Probably non-territorial. Off the Atlantic coast of the USA, this species is migratory (Ref. 244). Viviparous (with a yolk-sac placenta), with 4 to 20 young in a litter. Longevity given as 7 years (Ref. 775) but appears too low. Utilized fresh, dried-salted, and smoked (Ref. 9987).

Classification

Classified By
Mitchill, 1815
Class
Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)
Order
Ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes)
Family
Houndsharks (Triakidae)

Distribution

Region
Western Atlantic
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Massachusetts to Florida (USA), northern and western Gulf of Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, Jamaica, Barbados, Bermuda, Bahamas; southern Brazil to northern Argentina; also western Gulf of Mexico and Antilles (Ref. 26938). Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Allopatric with Mustelus mustelus and sympatric with Mustelus norrisi. One of the two new allopatric species of canis- norrisi-like smooth-hounds in this region is often confused with this species (Ref. 244). The subspecies Mustelus canis insularis, occurring at several Caribbean islands, was identified by Heemstra (Ref. 27770).
Range
42°N - 44°S, 100°W - 46°W

Environment

Climate
Subtropical
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
Unknown m
Depth To - meters
800 m
Zone
demersal
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range ? - 800 m (Ref. 55584), usually 18 - 200 m (Ref. 55309)
Trophic Level
3.67 s.e. 0.56 Based on diet studies.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
True
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
150 cm
Common Length
100.0 cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Vulnerability
Very high vulnerability (87 of 100)
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.04-0.43; tm=2-5; tmax=7; Fec= 4-20)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Near Threatened (NT)