Slender shark. Prominent snout with well developed nasal flabs that reach the mouth and cover the shallow nasoral grooves. Origin of the first dorsal fin behind the origin of the pelvic fins. Origin of second dorsal fin over the end of the anal fin.
Coloration
Grey-brown with white belly. Dark spots on the side and the fins.
Distribution
Eastern and northern Atlantic: Norway, British Isles down to Senegal, Mediterranean.
Biology
Abundant. Found over the continental shelf and uppermost slopes from the surface down to approximately 100 m (although has been rarely spotted at 400 m). This bottom dwelling shark can be found on sandy, coralline, algal, gravel and muddy bottoms.
Diet
Feeds on molluscs and crustaceans, and a variety of small bottom- dwelling fishes.
Size
Average size about 60 cm to 70 cm, maximum total length about 100 cm.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg laying). Females lay one egg per oviduct at a time. Egg hatches within 5 to 11 months (normally between 8 and 9 months). Size at birth about 9 cm to 10 cm. Egg size varies according to female size and locality; eg. the eggs of the females in the Mediterranean are smaller than those found around the United Kingdom. Males reach sexual maturity with a length of about 40 cm, females with 45 cm.
Similar Species
that has larger dots and is of bigger size. Best identifying feature is the nasal flaps that are smaller in the nursehound and do not reach mouth.
Vulnerability
Category:Least Concern (LC) Criteria: - Last evaluated:2021 Trend: