Angelshark (Squatina squatina)

Scientific name: Squatina squatina Linnaeus, 1758

Angelshark (Squatina squatina)

The Angelshark (Squatina squatina) is a marine fish of the family Squatinidae.

Biology

This is a benthic species that occurs inshore (5 m), on coasts and estuaries to >150 m on continental shelf. Found mainly on sand or mud bottoms; sluggish by day, lying buried with eyes protruding and swims strongly off bottom at night. Feeds mainly on flatfishes, skates, crustaceans and molluscs with one record of swallowed cormorant. Produce 7-25 pups/litter, increasing with female size; gestation 8-10 months (born Dec.-Feb in Mediterranean, July in England). Ovoviviparous. Seasonally migratory in colder water, moving northwards in summer. Utilized fresh and dried salted for human consumption, and possibly for oil and fishmeal. Reaches 250 cm.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Squatina squatina
Family
Squatinidae (Angel sharks)
Order
Squatiniformes (Angel sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
183
Common length
150
Depth range
150 m (492 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; oceanodromous; depth range ? - 150 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Northeast Atlantic: southern Norway, Sweden and Shetland Islands to Morocco and West Sahara, including the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean.Range and abundance declining severly throughout its range; proposed legal protection in Britain.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Critically Endangered (CR) (A2bcd+3d+4bcd)
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=9-20)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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