Smooth Hound

Family Triakidae

REMARKS Maximum length 140 cm. These are rather sluggish sharks, which feed upon crabs, lobsters, etc., their smooth pavement-like teeth being adapted for crushing shells rather than for seizing and holding active fish. The two species, which have often been confused, are Mustelus asteria Cloquet and Mustelus mustelus (Linnaeus). The former (which is, incidentally, the more common of the two in British waters) has lots of small white spots on its back and sides. The latter is the one illustrated above.