Gulf of Mexico Smoothhound Shark Information and Pictures of the Gulf Smoothhound Mustelus sinusmexicanus

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Shark picture - green sawfish

View all available Gulf smoothhound shark pictures in the Shark Pictures Database

Common Names: Gulf of Mexico smoothhound shark, gulf smoothound, gulf smooth dogfish, sand shark, mud shark, smooth dog, smooth hound, grayfish.

Latin Name: Mustelus sinusmexicanus.

Family: Triakidae - Houndsharks

Identification:

Long slender body. Dorsum plain grey/brown. Ventrum pale/white. First dorsal large and rounded. Fins have a pale to white trailing margin probably fading towards adulthood. Caudal fin deeply notched. Flat, plate like teeth. Interdorsal ridge present. Iris golden. Pupil large and rounded.

Upper labial furrows much longer than lower. Pavement of high crowned teeth.

Size:

Maximum recorded size 140cm. Size at birth 39 - 43cm.

Habitat:

Continental shelf from 36m to 229 m. Mostly between 42 and 91 meters.

Abundance and distribution:

Restricted to the Gulf of Mexico. Mostly along the northern rim of the continental shelf. The northern population may extend down the western edge of the gulf and link up with a second smaller group located in the southern gulf west of the Yucatan.

Diet:

Diet consists of crustaceans, molluscs and small fishes - menhaden among others.

Behavior:

Unknown.

Reproduction:

Viviparous with yolk sac placenta. Recorded litter size 8.

IUCN Red List Status:

Not evaluated. It's limited range probably makes it susceptible to over fishing.

Photographs:

Gulf of Mexico under an oil rig.

Similar species:

Sympatric species include the Florida smoothhound M.norrisi (described as having upper labial furrows shorter than lower). M.norissi may be synonymous with M.canis (also sympatric) which has upper labial furrows longer than lower but to a lesser degree than M.sinusmexicanus.

Reaction to divers:

Not known but probably shy like other smoothhounds due to small size.

Diving logistics:

Although this species of smoothhound shark can be found within recreational limits, encounters with divers have not been recorded. It may be possible to encounter the Gulf smoothhound while diving under some of the deeper rigs that are sprinkled along the continental shelf in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Reports of sightings/encounters would be welcome.

References and further reading:

Sharks of the World. Leonard Compagno.

Fishbase.org

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