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| Squatina squatina | ||||||||||||||||
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| Squatina squatina Marini, 1936 |
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 Range of Squatina squatina (in blue)
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The angelshark, Squatina squatina, is an angel shark of the family Squatinidae found in the northeast Atlantic from southern Norway, Sweden and the Shetland Islands to Morocco and west Sahara, including the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean between latitudes 65° N and 15° N, at depths down to 150 m. Its length is up to 1.83 m.
The angelshark is found on the continental shelves from close inshore to at least 150 m depth. It lies, with only its eyes protruding, buried in sand or mud. The nasal barbels have expanded, slightly spatulate, unfringed tips. The anterior nasal flaps are weakly fringed, and the head is broadly concave between the eyes. There are short stout thorns in symmetrical groups on the snout and between the eyes, and a pair between the spiracles. There is a median dorsal row of spines.
It feeds mainly on bony fishes, but also skates, crustaceans and molluscs.
Coloration is a uniform dark tan above, pale below. The dorsal surface has small irregular dark spots, with a regular pattern of several small to largish blackish spots, and no ocelli.
Reproduction is ovoviviparous, with 9 to 20 pups per litter.
Conservation Status
In the UK the angel shark is also known as monkfish and has been sold as such for human consumption since the 1970s. In February 2008 UK Biodiversity Minister Joan Ruddock announced the the angel shark would receive full legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
References
- "Squatina punctata". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. July 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Compagno, Dando, & Fowler, Sharks of the World, Princeton University Press, New Jersey 2005 ISBN 0-691-12072-2
- Sighting of the Angel Shark Squatina Squatina in the island of Gran Canaria, Krupskaya Narváez et al, BIOGES Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Gestión Ambiental, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. España December 2007
- | DEFRA press release species given protection in April 2008
