Slender smooth-hound journal "Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand". Garrick named the species "Triakis attenuata", in reference to its extremely slender ("attenuate") body. In 1973, Leonard Compagno proposed a separate genus for the slender smooth-hound: "Gollum", after the character in J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings", "to whom this shark bears some resemblance in form and habits." He placed "Gollum" with the finback catsharks (Proscylliidae), but also noted its many anatomical similarities to the false catshark ("Pseudotriakis microdon"). At the time, Compagno chose to maintain "Pseudotriakis" as the sole member of the family Pseudotriakidae because of its
Spotless smooth-hound continental shelf and in semi-enclosed areas of sea at depths down to and possibly as deep as . It is found near the seabed, often over sandy substrates and is thought to feed on crustaceans and other benthic invertebrates. The spotless smooth-hound is viviparous. Males become sexually mature at a length of between and females at . Litter size varies between about five and sixteen pups which are nourished by yolk sac placentas. The gestation period is about ten months and the pups measure about at birth. Maximum recorded age is nine years. The spotless smooth-hound is used for human