Mustelus stevensi White & Last, 2008
Western spotted smoothhound
Mustelus stevensi
photo by Krajangdara, T.

Family:  Triakidae (Houndsharks), subfamily: Triakinae
Max. size:  128.3 cm TL (male/unsexed); 103.4 cm TL (female)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 69 - 735 m
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean: tropical, from northwest Australia to southern Indonesia and the Andaman Sea.
Diagnosis:  This moderately large species is disinguished by the following characters: palatine processes of the palatoquadrates not subdivided at the symphysis; pre-second dorsal length 58.1-61.4% TL; upper labial furrows are longer than lower furrows, upper ones 1.7-2.3% TL and 1.3-1.7 times lowers; buccopharyngeal denticles cover entire tongue and roof of mouth; reproductive mode aplacental viviparity; adults are without any hypercalcification of skeletal elements; dorsal fins moderately large and upright, first dorsal-fin anterior margin 13.0-15.7% TL, height 8.5-10.3% TL; claspers of adults are moderately long, inner length 8.1-11.2% TL; teeth in about 72/75 files; precaudal vertebral centra 75-91, monospondylous centra 33-41; small white spots usually present on the dorsal surfaces of body, including along lateral line; dorsal fins often with dark apical margins; caudal-fin terminal lobe white tipped (Ref. 124465).
Biology:  Recorded litter size litter sizes of 5-17 pups with size at birth likely to be around 28.0 cm TL (Ref. 124465).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 02 August 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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