STARSPOTTED SMOOTHHOUND
Smooth to the touch with a starry white spot pattern
The Starspotted smoothhound (Mustelus manazo) is a shark belonging to the family Triakidae. It is found in the northwest Pacific, and in the west Indian Ocean. They have white spots that give it that star spot appearance.
Family: Triakidae – Houndsharks
Genus: Mustelus
Species: manazo
Phylum– Chordata
Class– Chondrichthyles
Common Name– Ground Sharks
Family– Triakidae
Common Name– Houndsharks
Genus– Mustelus
Species– manazo
Status: IUCN Red List DATA DEFICIENT
Average Size and Length: They are born around 30 cm/11.8 inches. Mature sharks measure between 62-70 cm/2-2.3 feet. The maximum recorded for a male is 96 cm/3 feet, and 117/3.8 feet for a female.
Average Weight: Their published weight is 12.6 pounds.
Teeth and Jaw: The teeth are pavement-like, great for crushing.
Head: Its nostrils are fairly close-set, and its eyes are large and close set.
Denticles: The denticles are flat and non-overlapping, giving the shark a smooth feel to the touch.
Demographic, Distribution, Habitat, Environment and Range: The Starspotted smoothhound can be found in the northwest Pacific in southern Siberia, Japan, Koreas, China (including Taiwan), and Vietnam (45° N and 10° S). In the west Indian Ocean in Kenya. They can be found on the continental shelf from the intertidal zone to close inshore on mud and on sand from the surface down to about 1,180 feet. They are found in temperate to tropical, demersal waters.
Diet: They eat mostly bottom invertebrates, specifically crustacea.
Aesthetic Identification: The Starspotted smoothhound is grey to grey-brown dorsally, and lighter ventrally. It has many white spots. It is of medium size. The dorsal fins are unfringed. The pectoral and pelvic fins are somewhat small.
Biology and Reproduction: They are ovoviviparous, no yolk-sac placenta, having 1-22 pups per litter, with an average of 2-6, further averaging 5. The size of the litter increases with the size of the mother. They are born in spring after a 10-month gestation. Adults mate in the summertime. They are fairly fast-growing, maturing at 3-4 years.
Behavioral Traits, Sensing and Intelligence: Unknown.
Starspotted Smoothhound Future and Conservation: There is not enough data to evaluate. They are fairly abundant within their range, which they share with the Whitespot smoothhound. Off the coast of Japan, China and the Koreas, it is important to longline fisheries for its meat.
Spotted Smoothhound Recorded Attacks on Humans: Not a threat to humans.