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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🎣 Game Fish 🌡️ Subtropical

Gray smoothhound

Mustelus californicus Gill, 1864
Max Length
116 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
9 yrs
Trophic Level
3.5
Depth
0–200 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Very low
Vulnerability
52.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

A common inshore and offshore shark found on the continental shelves, and entering shallow muddy bays. Feeds mostly on crabs, including cancrids and grapsids, ghost shrimp, innkeeper (echiuroid) worms (Urechis), and small fish (herring and midshipmen, Porichthys). Viviparous (with a yolk-sac placenta), with 2 to 5 young in a litter. Utilized for human consumption.

Scientific Name
Mustelus californicus
Authority
Gill, 1864
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
116 cm
Lifespan
9 years
Depth Range
0–200 m
Trophic Level
3.5
Resilience
Very low
Vulnerability
52.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Physical description for Gray smoothhound is currently being compiled.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Gray smoothhound is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Gray smoothhound is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Viviparous 🤰 Viviparous
Size at Maturity
78.1cm TL

Viviparous with a yolk-sac placenta .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 200 m , usually 2 - 46 m . Subtropical; 40°N - 23°N, 126°W - 109°W

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
3.5±0.2

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00229 × L3.14 (TL)
Max TL
116cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2024

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Very low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
52.00/100
Moderate-High vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.5
Predator
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Gill, 1864

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Gray smoothhound is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • 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
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 21.8 g
Omega-3 (total) 139 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Gray smoothhound has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Gray Smooth-hound · Grey Smooth-hound · gray smoothhound
🌍CES hladkoun kalifornský
🇩🇪German Grauer Glatthai · Kalifornischer Glatthai
🇫🇮Finnish kaliforniankoirahai
🇮🇹Italian Palombo della California
🇳🇱Dutch Grijze toonhaai
🇵🇹Portuguese Cação-do-kelp-americano
🇷🇺Russian Калифорнийская кунья акула · Серая кунья акула
🇪🇸Spanish Musola gris · cazón mamón

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 14 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Gray smoothhound ↗
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