Mustelus asterias Cloquet, 1819
Starry smooth-hound
Mustelus asterias
photo by Salesjö, A.

 Family:  Triakidae (Houndsharks), subfamily: Triakinae
 Max. size:  140 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 4,760.0 g
 Environment:  demersal; depth range 0 - 350 m
 Distribution:  Northeast Atlantic: British Isles and North Sea to Canary Islands, including the Mediterranean and Mauritania.
 Diagnosis:   
 Biology:  A common inshore and offshore shark found on the continental and insular shelves from the intertidal down to at least 100 m. Prefers sandy and gravelly bottom. Feeds primarily on crustaceans (crabs, hermit crabs, lobsters and slipper lobsters). Ovoviviparous (aplacental), with 7 to 15 young per litter. Size at birth about 30 cm. Utilized fresh and dried salted.
 IUCN Red List Status:   (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Carpenter, Kent E. - 15.06.92
 Modified by: Bailly, Nicolas - 03.04.12
 Checked by: Luna, Susan M. - 25.03.94

Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.


Page created by Jen, 05.08.02, php script by kbanasihan 06/09/2010 ,  last modified by dsantos, 20/08/10