Sawback angelshark

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Sawback angelshark
Conservation status

Critically Endangered (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Superorder: Selachimorpha
Order: Squatiniformes
Family: Squatinidae
Genus: Squatina
Species:
S. aculeata
Binomial name
Squatina aculeata
Cuvier, 1829
Squatina aculeata distmap.png
Range of sawback angelshark (in blue)

The sawback angelshark (Squatina aculeata) is an angelshark of the family Squatinidae[2]

Measurements[]

Mature ~ 100.0–124 cm TL; Max ~ 188 cm TL.

Appearance[]

Color: Sawback Angelsharks Are a dull grey to a light brown on back that has scarcely scattered with small irregular white spots and also with regular small dark brownish spots. No ocelli. Obtains dark blotches on head, back, the fin bases and tail. Body: Obtains large thorns atop its head in a row down its back. Has concave between eye, eye spiracle distance <1.5 x eye length. Has heavily fringed nasal barbels and including anterior nasal flaps.

Distribution and range[]

Eastern Atlantic: western Mediterranean, Morocco, Senegal, Guinea to Nigeria, then Gabon to Angola. 43°N - 19°S, 18°W - 30°E.

Climate and habitat[]

Subtropical; offshore species, outer continental shelf and upper slope, demersal, marine. Usually found on muddy bottoms. 30–500 m (98–1,640 ft) down.

Behavior[]

As with other angelsharks, the sawback angelshark is a bottom-dweller that tries to camouflage at the bottom of the ocean in order to ambush and capture its prey.

Biology[]

Diet: feeds on small sharks, bony fishes, cuttlefish, and crustaceans. Reproduction: are ovoviviparous.

Status[]

IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered. Added to endangered species list in 2007 due to overexploitation.[3]

Threat to humans[]

Sawback angelshark may be dangerous to humans if disturbed.

Resilience & vulnerability[]

Low, minimum population doubling time: 4.5–14 years; high to very high vulnerability.

References[]

  1. ^ Morey, G.; Barker, J.; Bartolí, A.; Gordon, C.; Hood, A.; Jimenez-Alvarado, D.; Meyers, E.K.M. (2019). "Squatina aculeata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T61417A116768915. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T61417A116768915.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Species Squatina aculeata Cuvier". FishWisePro. 1829. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  3. ^ Morey, G.; Barker, J.; Bartolí, A.; Gordon, C.; Hood, A.; Jimenez-Alvarado, D.; Meyers, E.K.M. (2019). "Squatina aculeata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T61417A116768915. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T61417A116768915.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  • Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Squatina aculeata" in FishBase. July 2006 version.
  • Compagno, Dando, & Fowler, Sharks of the World, Princeton University Press, New Jersey 2005 ISBN 0-691-12072-2

External links[]

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