sicklefin smooth-hound
Mustelus lunulatus
Pacific smooth-hound shark, from southern California to Panama, reaching 175 cm and caught by commercial fishing. It is near threatened worldwide.
Also called: cação-falcado, cazón segador, tiburón mamón, sicklefin smooth-hound
- maximum
- 175 cm
- depth
- 10–94 m
who is the sicklefin smooth-hound
The sickle-fin smooth-hound belongs to the family Triakidae and reaches 175 cm. It lives on the continental shelf, near the coast and out to open sea, 10 to 94 m deep. It is ovoviviparous, and pairs form with a characteristic embrace before breeding. Its meat is used for human consumption. It is caught by commercial fishing. It occurs in the Pacific, from southern California to Panama, and also off the coasts of Ecuador and Peru.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the sicklefin smooth-hound; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Slender smooth-hound shark of the genus Mustelus, with no spines on the dorsal fins. The name falcado refers to sickle-shaped fins. It lives in waters 10 to 94 m deep, near the coast, and on the shelf out to open sea. In the northern part of its range it lives alongside the gray smooth-hound, Mustelus californicus, but the two species are easy to tell apart.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
In Latin America, it occurs from Mexico to Peru, passing through Central America and Ecuador, on continental shelves.
Habitat: Continental shelf, 10 to 94 m deep, near the coast and out to open sea.
rules for the sicklefin smooth-hound
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
Shark with no danger to whoever catches it. Hold it with care and release it with minimal handling.
in the kitchen
Its meat is used for human consumption.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00229, b = 3.14; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Mustelus lunulatus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Mustelus lunulatusNames by country and language.
