Smooth Dogfish

Mustelus canis

FAMILY: Triakidae

ALSO KNOWN AS: Smoothhound, dogfish, dusky smoothhound

CONSERVATION STATUS: Near threatened (worldwide)

RANGE: Range extends from Canada to Argentina

LENGTH: Up to 100 cm (approx. 3 feet) total length

WEIGHT: 6.8 kg (15 lbs)

Illustration ©Marc Dando

Photograph ©Wix Stock

Overview

RANGE: Range extends from Canada to Argentina, although reports should be scrutinized to avoid confusion with the Florida smoothhound, Mustelus norrisi. In Western North Atlantic, it is rare in the Bay of Fundy, but becomes seasonably abundant from Cape Cod to South Carolina. Often found in Long Island Sound.

HABITAT: Enters the surf zone and is also encountered offshore. Often encountered 0 to 200 m in depth, but reports do indicate a vertical range down to 800 m.

Map ©IUCN

IDENTIFICATION: Slender body. Second dorsal fin larger than the anal fin. Spiracle visible behind the eye. Lower lobe of the caudal fin is rounded. Teeth are numerous, small, and have blunted cusps (not pointy). Brown to olive-brown dorsal coloration. Grey to white underside.

INTERESTING FACTS: Viviparous species (gives birth to live young). Feeds on small fishes, shrimp, and benthic invertebrates, such as crabs and worms. In Western North Atlantic, the species seasonally migrates closer to shore and northward in the summer. Often kept in public aquaria and taken as bycatch in gillnet fisheries.

IUCN CONSERVATION STATUS: Near threatened

Near threatened; currently no minimum size or bag limit.

Citation: IUCN

Support Shark Research!

Donating to the Atlantic Shark Institute helps support crucial shark research.

Support the ASI

Explore Other Sharks

Shortfin Mako Isurus oxyrinchus	White Shark Carcharodon carcharias	Porbeagle Shark Lamna nasus
Blue Shark Prionace glauca	Common Thresher Alopias vulpinus	Blacktip Shark Carcharhinus limbatus
Smooth Dogfish Mustelus canis	Spinner Shark Carcharhinus brevipinna	Sandbar Shark Carcharhinus plumeus
Sand tiger Shark Carcharias taurus