Living near the ocean floor, the smooth-hound can typically be found close to the coastline. It sometimes ventures out into open water, up to 350 m deep.
This species is viviparous (live-bearing). After 10 to 12 months of gestation, the female gives birth to 4 to 20 young sharks measuring close to 40 cm each.
Houndsharks feed mostly at night, on bottom-dwelling creatures. Their young primarily hunt crustaceans. Their short, flattened teeth allow them to crush their prey’s exoskeletons. The adults also feed on cuttlefish and bony fish.
The names of both houndsharks and dogfish make reference to dogs. This seems to stem from the fact that these sharks often travel and hunt in a group, like a pack of dogs.
