Overview
Smooth-hound sharks have a slender, fusiform body with a pointed snout and two dorsal fins that are similar in size. Their coloration is typically gray to brown, with a lighter underside. They are distinguished from other similar species by their smooth skin, lacking the denticles found on other sharks.
Commonly found in:
Over the past 7 years, there has been 1 recorded smooth hound shark attack. Of these attacks, they have occurred at sea and at the following beaches:
Size and Weight
- Size: Males average between 3-4 feet when mature; females average between 4-5 feet when mature
- Weight: Males typically weigh 15-20 pounds; females typically weigh 20-30 pounds
- Swimming speed: Both sexes swim at speeds of 2-3 mph
Interaction with Humans
- Interaction with Humans: Generally harmless, rarely encounters humans
- Avoidance: Stay out of shallow coastal waters at night
- Activity: Most active at night and during twilight hours
Lifespan and Diet
- Lifespan: Males live approximately 15-20 years; females live approximately 20-25 years
- Diet: Crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish; hunts by crushing prey with flat teeth
Migratory Patterns
Smooth Hound Sharks exhibit seasonal migratory patterns. They typically move northward along coastal areas during spring and summer, and southward in autumn and winter. In the eastern Atlantic, they migrate from the waters off the UK and Ireland to the Mediterranean and North African coast. In the western Atlantic, they travel from New England and the Mid-Atlantic states to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. These sharks also undertake inshore-offshore migrations, moving into shallower waters during warmer months and retreating to deeper waters in colder seasons.
