Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) > Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks) > Triakidae (Houndsharks) > Triakinae
Etymology: Mustelus: Latin for weasel, an ancient name for sharks, possibly referring to the pointed snouts, swift movements and/or rapacious feeding behavior of smaller predatory sharks [strictly not tautonymous with Squalus mustelus Linnaeus 1758 since type was designated by the ICZN]. (See ETYFish); mosis: Etymology not explained (no written description); since mosis is the Latin spelling of Moses, possibly an allusion to this shark’s type locality in the Red Sea. (See ETYFish).
More on authors: Hemprich & Ehrenberg.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 400 m (Ref. 100719). Tropical; 30°N - 7°N

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf, southernmost confirmed records from off Somalia in the Gulf of Aden.

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m 67.5, range 62 - 80 cm
Max length : 150 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 244)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. A smoothhound without spots and often with a white-tipped 1st dorsal fin; adults with a hard, bone-like growth embedded in snout, readily felt by pinching it (Ref. 5578). Grey or grey-brown dorsally, white ventrally (Ref. 5578). Pectoral fins with pale trailing edges (Ref. 5485).

Occurs in continental waters, both inshore and offshore (Ref. 244). Sometimes seen on coral reefs (Ref. 244). Feeds on small bottom fishes, mollusks, and crustaceans (Ref. 244). In the Gulf of Aqaba on cephalopods, decapods and terrestrial food items while off Al-Ghardaqar near the entrance of the Gulf of Suez, prawns, small crabs and small fish were found in the specimens (Ref. 124465). Viviparous (Ref. 244). Caught by shore anglers (Ref. 5578). Readily lives in captivity (Ref. 244). Utilized as a foodfish (Ref. 244).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae

Viviparous, with 6 to 10 young in a litter; born at 26-28 cm (Ref. 5485). Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Compagno, Leonard J.V. | Collaborators

White, W.T., S. Arunrugstichai and G.J.P. Naylor, 2021. Revision of the genus Mustelus (Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae) in the northern Indian Ocean, with description of a new species and a discussion on the validity of M. walkeri and M. ravidus. Mar. Biodiversity 51(42):1-24. (Ref. 124465)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

Near Threatened (NT) (A2d); Date assessed: 25 April 2018

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

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Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00224 (0.00105 - 0.00478), b=3.14 (2.97 - 3.31), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 4.0 ±0.52 se; based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=4).

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Medium.

Mustelus mosis Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1899