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Starry Smooth hound (MUSTELUS ASTERIAS)

Line
Class
kgs		 Line
Class
lbs		 Weight
in
kgs		 Weight
in
lbs. ozs		 Place
of
capture		 Country
of
capture		 Date
of
capture		 Name
of
angler
     
SMOOTH HOUND, STARRY / MUSTELUS ASTERIAS
2 4 3.23 7.2 Langstone England 030697 R. Barron
6 12 5.93 13.1 Selsey England 140603 S. Trinder
8 16 6.35 14.0 Park Shore England 190898 R. Barron
10 20 6.14 13.8 Isle of Sheppey England 290881 A. Sindrey
*AT AT 12.70 28.0 Heacham England 69 A. Chilvers
*SH SH 10.49 23.2 Bradwell on Sea England 72 D. Carpenter

The Starry Smooth Hound (MUSTELUS ASTERIAS)

is a moderately-sized, rather slender shark with two high dorsal fins and white spots on the dorsum. Snout gradually rounded with elongate and prominent nasal flaps which are well seperated from each other and the mouth; internasal distance 1.2 - 1.3 times nostril width; eyes horizontally elongate with strong subocular ridges; spiracle rather prominent. Mouth triangular in shape, with teeth in both jaws low, small and molariform, arranged in a pavement-like fashion; labial furrows prominent with uppers much longer than lowers. Oral (buccal) cavity carpeted by denticles (buccopharyngeal denticles).

First dorsal fin origin over pectoral inner margin. Dorsal fins of similar shape; tall and broadly triangular, the second slightly smaller; interdorsal space 19 - 25% TL; pectoral fins broad with anterior margins measuring 12 - 16% TL; anal fin smaller than second dorsal. Caudal fin strongly assymetrical; ventral lobe only moderately developed; terminal lobe well-developed. Colour mid-grey to grey-brown dorsally with numerous small white spots on dorsum and uper flanks, most restricted toabove the lateral line; shading to white ventrally; posterior margin of caudal fin sometimes white.

Starry Smooth Hound (MUSTELUS ASTERIAS)

This is the only white-spotted smoothhound in Mediterranean waters.

A frequent coastal shark of continental and insular shelves, primarily occurring near the bottom over sandy, muddy or gravel substrate at depths from the shoreline down to 100m or more; usually under 60m.

These sharks are often found close inshore in littoral waters; in shallow bays or flats and off estuary mouths; also ranging far offshore over the shelf and are especially common on or near submerged banks.

Starry smooth hounds are common thtoughout the entire Mediterranean over continental shelf, including Adriatic and Sea of Marmara.


Starry smoothhounds principally eat benthic crustaceans including hermit and other crabs, lobsters and shrimps.

Ovoviviparous with 7 -15 offspring per litter; larger litter size in larger females; gestation time circa 1 year with parturition in the summer over shallow inshore waters. Females mature at ca. 85cm TL and males at ca. 78 - 85cm.

Information supplied by http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/sharktrust/starrysmot.shtml and www.first-nature.com
 
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