Grey Gummy Shark, Mustelus ravidus White & Last 2006
Other Names: Australian Grey Smooth-hound, Gummy Shark
Grey Gummy Shark, Mustelus ravidus. Source: Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO. License: CC BY Attribution-Noncommercial
Summary:
A greyish, unspotted gummy shark with a narrow white tip and narrow pale margin on the first dorsal fin, a distinct dusky tip on the second dorsal fin, and a distinct black tip on the terminal caudal lobe.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2025, Mustelus ravidus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 09 Jun 2026, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3261
Grey Gummy Shark, Mustelus ravidus White & Last 2006
More Info
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Distribution |
South-west of Albany, Western Australia, to Darwin, Northern Territory. The species is also known from Borneo. |
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Features |
A moderately-sized species with the following set of characters: high preanal length to anal-caudal space (9.6-10.5), to dorsal-caudal space (6.1-6.8) ratios; dorsal fins are large, slightly raked back, base length of first dorsal fin (0.8-1) times anal-caudal space; claspers of adult males are relatively long with outer length about 10% TL, terminating only slightly short of anal fin origin; teeth in about 77/73 rows, exposed to a greater extent around symphysis of lower jaw when mouth closed; 90-91 precaudal vertebrae; 35-37 monospondylous centra; ventral caudal lobe expanded and curved. |
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Size |
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Biology |
Males mature at 66 cm total length (TL), and females mature at 83 cm fork length (FL). The species is viviparous (live-bearing), with litters between 6 and 24 pups (average 18). |
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Fisheries |
Taken as a minor part of bycatch in the Western Australian West Coast Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Fishery. The species is most common in deeper waters outside most of the fishery. |
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Etymology |
The specific name is from the Latin ravidus (= greyish), in reference to the pale grey dorsal coloration. |
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Species Citation |
Mustelus ravidus White & Last 2006, Cybium 30(3): 241, figs 5-7. Type locality: off Port Hedland, Western Australia, 18°30'S, 118°43'E. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2025 |
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Resources |
Grey Gummy Shark, Mustelus ravidus White & Last 2006
References
Compagno, L.J.V., Dando, M. & Fowler, S. 2005. A Field Guide to the Sharks of the World. London : Collins 368 pp. (as Mustelus sp. A)
Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls. (as Mustelus sp. A)
Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2nd ed. 550 pp.
McAuley, R.B. & Kyne, P.M. 2019. Mustelus ravidus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T63165A68634279. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T63165A68634279.en. Accessed on 13 December 2025.
Sainsbury, K.J., Kailola, P.J. & Leyland, G.G. 1984. Continental Shelf Fishes of Northern and North-Western Australia. Canberra : Fisheries Information Service 375 pp. figs & pls. (as Mustelus sp.)
White W.T. & Last, P.R. 2006. Description of two new species of smooth-hounds, Mustelus widodoi and Mustelus ravidus (Carcharhiniformes : Triakidae) from the western central Pacific. Cybium 30(3): 235-246
White, W.T., Arunrugstichai, S. & Naylor, G.J.P. 2021. Revision of the genus Mustelus (Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae) in the northern Indian Ocean, with description of a new species and a discussion on the validity of M. walkeri and M. ravidus. Marine Biodiversity 51(3): 1. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-021-01161-4
