Mustelus henlei

Distinguishing Characteristics:

  • Slender body
  • Large spiracle behind eyes
  • Fraying on the rear edges of the first dorsal fin
  • Long caudal peduncle
  • Second dorsal significantly larger than the anal fin
  • Color reddish-brown above and white below

Habitat: Found in cold to warm water near the bottom from the intertidal area out to a depth of at least 650 feet; common in tidal flats; found from Coos Bay, Oregon, and south

Size: Up to 3.3 feet

Note: Brown smoothhound sharks have been seen to swim at high speed toward gill nets and, just before reaching the nets, leap over them.


A brown smoothhound shark swims in the shallow waters of Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve & Wetlands in California. (Source: American Wildlife)