About Mustelus mustelus (Linnaeus, 1758)
The common smooth-hound (Mustelus mustelus) has a grey-brown back and a white underside. It is frequently misidentified, most often as the starry smooth-hound. While the starry smooth-hound typically has white spots on its back, these spots can fade, leading to confusion between the two species. It is also commonly confused with the tope shark, but can be distinguished by its larger second dorsal fin. The common smooth-hound has two dorsal fins, an anal fin, a pair of pectoral fins, a pair of pelvic fins, and a heterocercal tail. All of these fins work to stabilize the shark; in male common smooth-hounds, the pelvic fins are modified into claspers. Like other smooth-hound sharks, the common smooth-hound gathers in large groups similar to a pack of dogs, which is why these sharks are called hounds.
