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Angular angel shark (Squatina guggenheim) — Squatinidae

Angular angel shark

Squatina guggenheim
Family: Squatinidae
EN · Endangered

The Angular angel shark (Squatina guggenheim) is a brackish-water fish of the family Squatinidae that grows up to 129 cm.

Length
129 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
4.0–360.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Irregular
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The angular angelshark is an angel shark (Squatinidae) from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. The species has a strongly flattened, ray-like body with large, wing-like pectoral fins, but is a true shark. By day it lies half-buried on soft bottoms of the continental shelf and hunts from ambush at night. It is ovoviviparous. Bony fishes are its main prey, alongside crustaceans and molluscs. Owing to fishing pressure it is considered endangered. It is not venomous, but can bite forcefully when disturbed.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Angular angel shark?

The Angular angel shark has an irregular in shape body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Angular angel shark live?

The Angular angel shark lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Angular angel shark get?

The Angular angel shark grows to a maximum of about 129 cm. On average the species is around 89 cm.

Is the Angular angel shark dangerous to humans?

No, the Angular angel shark is harmless to humans.

Is the Angular angel shark edible?

Yes, the Angular angel shark is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gebogen zee-engel sourced
English name
Angular angel shark verified
Scientific name
Squatina guggenheim
Family
Squatinidae
Other names
Angular angel shark; Argentine angelshark verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
129.0 verified
Average length (cm)
89.0 verified
Body shape
Irregular sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
4.0 verified
Max depth (m)
360.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Squatina

More from the family Squatinidae

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