Starry smooth-hound
📖 Overview
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.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Physical description for Starry smooth-hound is currently being compiled.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Starry smooth-hound is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Ovoviviparous, embryos feed solely on yolk .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 350 m . Temperate; 61°N - 16°N, 19°W - 36°E Northeast Atlantic: British Isles and North Sea to Canary Islands, including the Mediterranean and Mauritania.
🌿 Ecology
crustaceans (crabs, hermit crabs, lobsters and slipper lobsters)
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Starry smooth-hound is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 21.2 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 236 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Starry smooth-hound has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Smooth-hound · Starry smooth hound · Starry smooth-hound · Starry smoothound · smooth hound, starry smooth hound · Starry Smoothhound · Sweet William |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | Kalb · Wahsh |
| 🌍CES | hladkoun hvězdnatý |
| 🌍CYM | morgi llyfn · Morgwn Llyfn |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Glathaj · Stjernehaj |
| 🇩🇪German | Gefleckter Glatthai · Glatthai · Nördlicher Glatthai · weißgefleckter Glatthai |
| 🌍ELL | Αστρογαλέος |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | tähtikoirahai |
| 🇫🇷French | Emissole tachetée · Missole · émissole commune |
| 🌍GLE | An scoirneach ballach |
| 🌍HEB | כרישון כוכבני |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Palombo stellato · Palombo stellato europeo |
| 🌍LIT | žvaigždėtasis kiauniaryklis |
| 🌍MLT | Mazzola · Mazzola bla xewka · Mazzola tat-tbajja |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Gevlekte toonhaai · Gladde haai · gevlekte gladde haai · gevlekte gladde haai, toonhaai |
| 🌍NNO | kvitflekka glatthai |
| 🌍NOB | hvitflekket glatthai |
| 🇳🇴Norwegian | Glatthai · Hvitflekket glatthai |
| 🇵🇱Polish | mustel gwiaździsty |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Cação-pintado |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Звёздчатая кунья акула |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Boca blanca · Caella · Musola dentuda · Musola estrellada · Musola pintada · Tolla |
| 🌍SQI | Palomb · Pellumb me ylleza · peshku pëllumb me yllëza |
| 🌍SRP | Pas cukov · Pas pena |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | Glatthaj · Nordlig hundhaj |
| 🌍TUR | Asil köpek baligi · camgoz · kopek baligi · köpek balığı |
| 🌍UKR | Акула куняча зірчаста |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mustelus plebejus | Bonaparte | 1834 | Synonym |
| Mustelus stellatus | Risso | 1827 | Synonym |
| Squalus albomaculatus | Plucàr | 1846 | Synonym |
| Squalus edentulus | Chiereghini | 1872 | Heterotypic |
| Squalus hinnulus | Blainville | 1825 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 19 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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