The speckled smooth-hound is a robust shark with a moderately long, blunt snout, small eyes, short mouth and molar-like teeth without cusps.

The caudal peduncle is short and the lower lobe of the tail fin is narrow and slightly curved.

[3] Reports of this fish occurring in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Argentina are thought to be erroneous, and are likely to refer to the narrownose smooth-hound (Mustelus schmitti), another shark that is speckled with white spots.

[1] The speckled smooth-hound is ovoviviparous with eggs that develop within the female and hatch into juvenile fish which are about 30 cm (12 in) at birth.

[2] Along with the humpback smooth-hound (Mustelus whitneyi) and the spotted houndshark (Triakis maculata), this fish is known to local fisheries as "tollo" and is caught by artisan fishermen using gill nets.