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Endangered Species Act Status Review for Striped Smoothhound (Mustelus fasciatus)
This status review report summarizes the biology, distribution, and abundance of and threats to the…
Striped Smoothhound Shark
Striped Smoothhound Shark
Mustelus fasciatus
Quick Facts
Length
Up to 5 feet
Lifespan
Unknown
Threats
Commercial and artisanal fishing
Region
Foreign
About the Species
The striped smoothhound is a shark. The species once commonly occurred off the coast of southern Brazil, but due to significant fishing pressure, particularly on juveniles and newborns by commercial and artisanal fisheries, the species experienced a significant decline. The main threat to the striped smoothhound is bycatch in various commercial and artisanal fisheries operating in its coastal inshore habitat, including nursery areas. In 2017, NOAA Fisheries listed the species as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
Protected Status
ESA Endangered - Foreign
- Throughout Its Range
Appearance
The striped smoothhound is one of the most distinctive of the smoothhound shark species due to its large head, very small eyes, and sharply pointed snout. The striped smoothhound is grey or grey-brown on its dorsal side and white underneath. Newborns and juveniles have dark bars of uneven widths running across the upper surface of their head and body. Although the distinguishing vertical bars are still present in adults, they are not nearly as defined as they are in juveniles.
Biology
Although knowledge of the striped smoothhound’s diet is limited, one study from Brazil suggests the species eats a large number of crustaceans (mostly boxcrabs), followed by fishes and mollusks.
Where They Live
Range
The striped smoothhound has a very restricted coastal distribution; it lives near the seafloor in depths between 3 and 820 feet along the continental shelf and slope of the southwestern Atlantic in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. During the winter, adults are concentrated in southern Brazil between Rio Grande and Chuı´ off Rio Grande do Sul. In the summer, a portion of the population migrates south to waters off Uruguay and Argentina while the rest of the population remains off the coast of Rio Grande do Sul as year-round residents.
World map providing approximate representation of Striped smoothhound shark's location
Scientific Classification
The striped smoothhound has a very restricted coastal distribution; it lives near the seafloor in depths between 3 and 820 feet along the continental shelf and slope of the southwestern Atlantic in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. During the winter, adults are concentrated in southern Brazil between Rio Grande and Chuı´ off Rio Grande do Sul. In the summer, a portion of the population migrates south to waters off Uruguay and Argentina while the rest of the population remains off the coast of Rio Grande do Sul as year-round residents.
| Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Chordata | Class | Chondrichthyes | Order | Carcharhiniformes | Family | Triakidae | Genus | Mustelus | Species | fasciatus |
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Seafood Facts
Seafood News
Rainbow in the dusk sky at San Diego Harbor. Credit: NOAA/Liana Heberer.
The NOAA Aquaculture Strategic Plan (2023–2028) includes goals and objectives to sustainably develop the aquaculture industry in the United States. Credit: NOAA Aquaculture Program
Raw oysters on plate. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.