Narrow-fin Smooth-hound

About the Narrow-fin Smooth-hound

The Narrowfin Smooth Hound is found inshore on muddy bottoms at shallow depths of  up to 55m, but can go as deep as 84m. Its range is from United States to the Caribbean Sea and it’s found to be migratory in the Gulf of Mexico. They move towards the inshore shallow waters in the winters and offshore in the summers. Not much is known about this species, though it’s taken in unknown numbers in fisheries in Gulf of Mexico and the east coast of the US.

It is also taken in fisheries in South America where there is fishing pressure and intensive coastal hunting. Research is indicating that the Narrowfin Smooth Hound may not be any different from the Dusky Smooth Hound and therefore is listed as Data Deficient. Apart from this, Narrowfin is caught as bycatch in the shallow waters where it is found.

Male Narrowfins mature at 76-81 cm and reach a size of at up to 118 cm, females mature at 76-87 cm and reach a size of at least 123 cm. The size at birth is 29-37 cm and are viviparous with a litter of 7-14 pups. They feed on crabs and shrimps but also small bony fish.

Its sister species, the Dusky Smooth Hound has declined due to the fisheries in Venezuela. In the 1980s, the species were a common component of commercial catches, but now catches are almost absent. Scientists suspect the same happened to Narrowfins.

Do you have images or videos of Narrow-fin Smooth-hounds?
Submit them to [email protected].