Hound sharks
Dusky smooth-hound
Mustelus canis
A small, slender coastal shark with pavement-like teeth adapted for crushing hard-shelled prey.
View recent sightings
Every figure uses the same scale. The shark image is shown at the species’ published maximum length; individual animals vary.
Coastal waters over sandy and muddy bottoms, often moving seasonally between inshore and deeper water.
Western Atlantic, including the U.S. East Coast and parts of the Gulf of Mexico.
Coastal bottom waters
Crabs, lobsters, shrimp, worms, small fish, and other bottom-dwelling animals.
Slender gray body, cat-like eyes, two spineless dorsal fins, and flat grinding teeth.
Gives birth to live young after embryos develop inside the mother.
Species facts
Did you know?
Its flat teeth work more like crushing plates than cutting blades.
It is also widely called the smooth dogfish.
