Sicklefin Smooth-hound

Shark Database | Ground Sharks - Carcharhiniformes | Sicklefin Smooth-hound

About the Sicklefin Smooth-hound

Sicklefin Smoothhounds are demersal sharks that can be spotted from southern California to Panama in the eastern Pacific Ocean at depths between 9 to 144 m/29.5 to 472.4 ft, but are commonly found in shallow waters up to 100 m/328 ft deep.

Biology and Behaviour

Sicklefin smoothhounds are a fast growing species that mature at an early age, but has a low longevity compared to other sharks. They seasonally migrate during the fall and winter months.

Reproduction and Lifespan

Female sicklefin smoothhounds from the Gulf of California have a high fecundity producing six to 19 pups per year after a gestation period of 11 months. The pups at birth are 28 to 34 cm/11 to 13.4 in long. Females mature at six years at a length of 103.2 cm/3 ft 4.6 in, while males mature at two and a half years at a length of 91.5 cm/3 ft. The maximum reported length of a sicklefin smoothhound was 175, and they live up to 22 years.

Conservation and Tourism

There are no conservation measures in place for this specific species, however, since 2012, from May to July shark fishing is closed in Mexico.

The species is targeted and caught incidentally and is retained for its meat, mainly by trawls, demersal gillnets, and longlines. The Sicklefin Smoothhound is a relatively minor commercial species in the United States and along with other Mustelus species is one of the dominant species in the Gulf of California artisanal and small-scale fisheries. Reconstructed Mustelus species catches from the Gulf suggest a stable population over the past three generation lengths (33–42 years). In Central and South America, fishing pressure on this species is high and mostly unregulated with declines reported in catches of Mustelus species and the Sicklefin Smoothound. Given the long-term stable catches in Mexico and catch declines in Central and South America, the species is suspected to have undergone a 20–29% population reduction over the past three generation lengths (33-42 years) due to levels of exploitation, and the Sicklefin Smoothound is assessed as Near Threatened (close to meeting Vulnerable A2d). Appendix II CITES listing adopted at CoP20 in December 2025 with entry into effect in 2027.

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