Japanese angelshark (Squatina japonica)

Scientific name: Squatina japonica Bleeker, 1858

Japanese angelshark (Squatina japonica)

The Japanese angelshark (Squatina japonica) is a marine fish of the family Squatinidae. Native range: Northwest Pacific, Japan, Yellow Sea, Korea, and northern China.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0. Japanese angelshark Squatina japonica has broad pectoral fins with rounded free rear tips, posterior margin nearly straight, inner margin strongly convex; nasal barbels simple and spatulate. Anterior nasal flaps smooth to weakly fringed; dermal folds on sides of head without lobes. Rear tip of inner margin of pelvic fins considerably anterior to origin of first dorsal; very short hypocercal tail. Rows of moderately large spines on midline of back and tail from head to dorsal fins and between fin bases, and on snout and above eyes. Body color blackish brown with small dark and pale spots; no ocelli (eye-like spot).

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Squatina japonica
Family
Squatinidae (Angel sharks)
Order
Squatiniformes (Angel sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
200
Environment
Marine; demersal
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Northwest Pacific: Japan, Yellow Sea, Korea, and northern China.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Vulnerable (VU) (A2d+4d)
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be

Sources

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

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