Common smooth-hound
A grey-brown houndshark of the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean.
The common smooth-hound is a member of the Triakidae family found in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. It lives on continental shelves and slopes, growing up to two metres long. This viviparous shark gives birth to live young and is often mistaken for similar species due to its plain colouring.
- Found from British Isles to South Africa
- Lives at depths up to 625 metres
- Grows to a maximum length of 200 cm
- Reproduces via viviparity with live birth
- Often confused with the starry smooth-hound
What it is
This houndshark belongs to the family Triakidae. It displays a grey-brown colour on its back and a white underside. The body features two dorsal fins, an anal fin, paired pectoral and pelvic fins, and a heterocercal tail. These structures provide stability in the water. In males, the pelvic fins are modified into claspers for reproduction. Adults typically reach lengths between one and one point two metres, though they can grow up to two metres.
Where it lives
Its distribution covers the eastern Atlantic Ocean, stretching from the British Isles down to South Africa. Populations also inhabit the Mediterranean Sea, as well as waters around Madeira and the Canary Islands. The species occupies depths ranging from five to 625 metres. Despite this wide vertical range, it most frequently stays in shallower waters between five and fifty metres deep.
How it lives
Observers often mistake this shark for the starry smooth-hound, which bears white spots on its back. Faded spots on the starry variety can lead to further confusion. The tope shark is another similar species, but the common smooth-hound possesses a larger second dorsal fin. These physical distinctions help differentiate it from its relatives in the wild.
Breeding and life cycle
Reproduction in this species is viviparous, meaning the embryos develop inside the mother and receive nourishment directly rather than from a yolk sac alone. The females give birth to live young. Newborns measure approximately thirty-five centimetres in length at birth.
Questions people ask about Common smooth-hound
Where does the common smooth-hound live?
It inhabits the eastern Atlantic Ocean from the British Isles to South Africa. It is also found in the Mediterranean Sea, around Madeira, and near the Canary Islands.
How big does this shark get?
While it can reach a maximum length of 200 centimetres, the usual maximum size is 150 centimetres. Most commonly, adults measure between 100 and 120 centimetres.
How does the common smooth-hound reproduce?
The species is viviparous, meaning it gives birth to live young. The newborns are approximately 35 centimetres long when they are born.
Good reading and sources
- Common smooth-hound on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Common smooth-hound", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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