Mustelus schmitti
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Mustelus schmitti faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive commercial fishing pressure throughout its limited range in the southwestern Atlantic. The species is particularly vulnerable to bottom trawling operations and gillnet fisheries that target demersal species in coastal waters. Overfishing has dramatically reduced population numbers, with the species experiencing continued decline despite some regional fishing regulations.
Habitat
This small houndshark inhabits continental shelf waters of the southwestern Atlantic, typically found in depths ranging from shallow coastal areas to approximately 200 meters. The species prefers sandy and muddy bottom substrates along the continental shelf, particularly in temperate waters off Argentina and southern Brazil.
