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Sicklefin Smoothhound Shark
Cazón Segador
(Mustelus lunulatus)
Sicklefin Smoothhound Shark, Mustelus lunulatus: The Sicklefin Smoothhound Shark has an elongated slender body that is gray above with a white belly. The head has a pointed snout, horizontal, oval eyes, and a large mouth. The teeth are distinctive, with only small nubs.
The Sicklefin Smoothhound Shark has fins without distinguishing marks. It has two large dorsal fins, the second of which is smaller than the first. The distance between them is 18 to 22 percent of the total body length. The first dorsal fin has a concave rear edge, giving rise to the common name of the fish, and originates closer to the pectoral fins than to the pelvic fins. The second dorsal fin is larger than and originates well before the anal fin. The caudal fin is strongly asymmetrical. Its the lower lobe is expanded with a concave lower margin.
The Sicklefin Smoothhound Shark has five gill slits, with the last two being over the pectoral fins.
It is found near the bottom at depths up to 600 feet. It reaches a maximum length of just under 6 feet.
The Sicklefin Smoothhound Shark can be confused with the Brown Smoothhound Shark, Mustelus henlei (first dorsal fin with a fibrous edge; small pointed snout), and the Grey Smoothhound Shark, Mustelus californicus (first dorsal fin lacks the fibrous edge). The Sicklefin Smoothhound Shark is found in all Mexican waters. It is considered an excellent food fish by locals.
The Sicklefin Smoothhound Shark is a member of the Triakidae Family, which includes the Hound and Tope Sharks, known in Mexico fishing areas as cazónes. There are 38 members of the family in 9 genera, of which 7 species are found in Mexican fishing waters. They are small in stature with the largest one reaching 6.5 feet in length. They have slender bodies with long pointed snouts, horizontal oval eyes, and long angular arched mouths that reach past the front margin of the eyes. They are demersal (found close to the bottom) from the coastal shallows to over a mile deep within the water column. They are most active at night, feeding on crustaceans, cephalopods, and fish. The Sicklefin Smoothhound Shark is one of 22 members of the Mustelus Genus, of which four are found in Mexican fishing areas.
Sicklefin Smoothhound Shark, Mustelus lunulatus: A rare catch and a strong fighter. Caught during a fishing trip with Capt. Pata in the panga Salomé, in 72-degree, 200-foot deep water, in July 2007, on a Sabiki rig, 20 miles north of La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Size approximately 40 inches. Descrption and photo courtesy of John Snow.
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