Species profile
Florida Smoothhound
Mustelus norrisi
Identify Florida Smoothhound (Mustelus norrisi) from a photo: try it free in your browser, or get unlimited IDs, no sign-up, with the CatchRules app. Plus current fishing rules across 1 jurisdiction.
At a glance
Florida Smoothhound (Mustelus norrisi) is an IUCN Near Threatened shark or ray with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Notable details
- Florida smoothhounds are small coastal sharks that rarely exceed 40 inches (100 cm) in length.
- They feed almost exclusively on crustaceans, using flat, molar-like teeth to crush shrimp and crabs.
- Like all smoothhound sharks, they give birth to live young, with litters ranging from 1 to 14 pups.
- They inhabit shallow coastal waters from Florida south to Venezuela.
- Smoothhound sharks get their name from their notably smooth skin texture, which is far less rough than most other shark species.
Jurisdictions with rules for Florida Smoothhound
Background
The narrowfin smooth-hound or Florida smooth-hound (Mustelus norrisi) is a houndshark of the family Triakidae. It is found on the continental shelves of the subtropical western Atlantic, from Florida and the northern Gulf of Mexico to Venezuela, and also southern Brazil, between latitudes 32° N and 36° S, from the surface to a depth of 100 m. It can grow up to a length of 1.1 m.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Florida Smoothhound article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other sharks & rays on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Florida Smoothhound?
Florida Smoothhound (Mustelus norrisi) is an IUCN Near Threatened shark or ray with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
What is the scientific name for Florida Smoothhound?
Florida Smoothhound is Mustelus norrisi.
Is Florida Smoothhound regulated for fishing?
Yes — Florida Smoothhound has fishing regulations in 1 U.S. state and/or Canadian province tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Florida Smoothhound?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules app for iPhone or Android — on-device identification recognizes Florida Smoothhound along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.