Starry Smooth Hound

Fact File:

Common Name(s):
Starry Smooth Hound

Scientific Name:
Mustelus asterias
(Cloquet, 1819)

Usual Size:
To 140cm, with most fish being fully mature between 120/130cm

UK Record Weights from rod/line:

Shore:23lb 2oz

Boat:28lb

MAFF Minimum Size: Shore: Boat:

Identification:
Upper body pale brown to grey with numerous white spots above the lateral line which is the distinguishing feature from the Common Smooth Hound (Mustelus mustelus - no spots)

Breeding:
Aplacentally viviparous (live bearing). Litter size between 7/15 pups, which are 20cm at birth. Females mature at 85cm when approximately 2-3 years old.

Habitat:
Prefers sandy and gravel bottoms and usually located near the bottom - at depths to 100m and found both inshore and offshore.

Food:
Primarily crustaceans (hermit crabs and squat lobsters).

Range:
British Isles to Iberian Peninsula including the Mediterranean waters

Additional Notes:
This is the more common of the two species of Smooth Hound.

REFERENCES:

A Field Guide to The Sharks of British Coastal Waters - Vas 1991

FAO Species Catalogue 4 - Sharks of The World - Compagno

Fishes of the North-Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean - Whitehead, Bauchot, Hureau, Nielsen, Tortonese

Key to the Fishes of Northern Europe - Wheeler

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