About Mustelus lenticulatus Phillipps, 1932
Mustelus lenticulatus Phillipps, 1932, commonly called the spotted estuary smooth-hound or rig, and known as makō in Māori, is a houndshark belonging to the family Triakidae. It is found on continental shelves and in estuaries around New Zealand, and is closely related to the Australian gummy shark Mustelus antarcticus. Males of this species can grow up to 125 cm (49 in) in length, while females can reach 151 cm (59 in) long. In 2025, rigs were confirmed to be one of the few known shark species capable of producing sound, specifically 'clicks'. This shark is commercially fished, and is commonly served in New Zealand fish and chip shops under the name 'lemonfish'. In June 2018, the New Zealand Department of Conservation classified the spotted estuary smooth-hound as 'not threatened' under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, with the qualifier 'conservation dependent'.
