smooth dog-shark, sweet william, Australian smooth hound

Generally found in the temperate waters of the continental shelf and slope off southern Australia.

Gummy sharks have a slender body and short head. Their second dorsal fin is nearly as large as the first and the ventral caudal fin lobe is short. Their mouth is short and angular with numerous rows of blunt, flattened teeth arranged like pavement stones. It is uniformly grey in colour, speckled with small white spots.

It is a harmless species feeding on small crustaceans and worms and can be caught on a hand line. Gummy sharks are demersal (i.e. remain on or near the sea bed) and are found from intertidal waters to about 80 m, although they have been recorded as deep as 350 m.The fillets are quite palatable and are marketed as 'flake'.