Sawback angelshark

Sawback angelshark
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Squatiniformes
Family: Squatinidae
Genus: Squatina
Species: S. aculeata
Binomial name
Squatina aculeata
Cuvier, 1829
Range of sawback angelshark (in blue)

The sawback angelshark (Squatina aculeata) is an angel shark of the family Squatinidae

Measurements

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

Identification

Colour: 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 & Range

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

Climate & Habitat

Subtropical; Offshore species, outer continental shelf and upper slope, demersal, marine. Usually found on a muddy bottom. 30 - 500m down.

Behaviour

Unknown.

Biology

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

Status

IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.

Threat to Humans

Harmless.

Resilience & Vulnerability

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

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, December 28, 2014. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.