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Bull huss (Scyliorhinus stellaris) — Scyliorhinidae

Bull huss

Scyliorhinus stellaris
VU · Vulnerable

The Bull huss (Scyliorhinus stellaris) is a saltwater fish of the family Scyliorhinidae that grows up to 170 cm.

Length
170 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–400.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The nursehound is a bottom-dwelling catshark of the family Scyliorhinidae reaching about 170 cm. The elongate body is covered with large and small black spots, sometimes with white flecks as well. There are two dorsal fins set far back, and the skin feels rough. The nursehound lives solitarily on rocky and rough bottoms of the north-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, usually between 20 and 60 m, hunting benthic invertebrates and fish at night. It is oviparous, laying leathery egg cases ('mermaid's purses'). Fishing pressure has left the species assessed as Vulnerable across much of its range.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bull huss?

The Bull huss has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Bull huss live?

The Bull huss lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Bull huss get?

The Bull huss grows to a maximum of about 170 cm. On average the species is around 125 cm.

Is the Bull huss dangerous to humans?

No, the Bull huss is harmless to humans.

Is the Bull huss edible?

The Bull huss is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kathaai verified
English name
Bull huss verified
Scientific name
Scyliorhinus stellaris
Family
Scyliorhinidae
Other names
Dogfish; Flake; Flake catfish; Greater spotted dogfish; Greate-spotted dogfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
170.0 verified
Average length (cm)
125.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Straight sourced
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
No verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
400.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Social behaviour
Solitary verified
Territorial
No verified
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified
levensduur_max_jaar
19.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten verified
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Scyliorhinus

More from the family Scyliorhinidae

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