Spotted_estuary_smooth-hound
Spotted estuary smooth-hound
Species of shark
The spotted estuary smooth-hound or rig (Mustelus lenticulatus) is a houndshark of the family Triakidae, found on the continental shelves and in estuaries around New Zealand.[2] It is closely related to the gummy shark (Mustelus antarcticus) of Australia.[3] Males can grow up to a length of 125 cm, while females can reach a length of 151 cm.[2]
It is commercially fished, and is commonly served in fish and chip shops in New Zealand under the name "lemonfish".[4] In June 2018 the New Zealand Department of Conservation classified the spotted estuary smooth-hound as "not threatened" with the qualifier "conservation dependent" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[5]