Sawback angelshark

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

Sawback angelshark

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

Measurements

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

Appearance

Color: 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.

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gollark: You *can* learn stuff yourself instead of trying to go to the exact same university or whatever.
gollark: I do, yes, or technically write so.
gollark: That... is a very stretched definition.
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References
  1. Morey, G., Serena, F., Mancusi, C., Coelho, R., Seisay, M., Litvinov, F. & Dulvy, N. 2007. Squatina aculeata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2007: e.T61417A12477164. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T61417A12477164.en. Downloaded on 26 October 2017.
  2. "Species Squatina aculeata Cuvier". FishWisePro. 1829. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  3. Morey, G.; Serena, F.; Mancusi, C.; Coelho, R.; Seisay, M.; Litinov, F.; Dulvy, N. (2007). "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2007". doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T61417A12477164.en. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Froese, Rainer and 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
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