The common smooth-hound has a grey-brown back and is white on its underneath.

Due to the similarities between the common smooth-hound and other sharks, misidentification occurred for a long time.

Mustelus mustelus (Common smooth-hound)

The common smooth-hound has two dorsal fins, an anal fin, a pair of pectoral fins, a pair of pelvic fins and a heterocercal tail.

Although in South Africa the sharptooth houndshark is listed as a noncommercial species and thus cannot be harvested commercially, it is often mistaken for the common smooth-hound (Mustelus mustelus) by fishers.