Angel sharks are known for their flat-bodies that resemble skates & rays. While angel shark species vary in size, color and global distribution this family of sharks is sadly at serious risk of extinction. In order to help conserve these amazing sharks dive down with us to learn more and how to take action.
Since there are 22* Angel Shark species, this blog post will cover facts about the Pacific Angelshark.
DID YOU KNOW:
Though Angel Sharks resemble rays they can be easily distinguished by looking at their pectoral fins.
In skates and rays, pectoral fins are always attached to the head. In angel or other flat sharks, they are not.
Angel sharks also have tubular tails with asymmetrical caudal fin and do not have a venomous spine, unlike their skate or ray relatives.
Other Angel Shark species include:
Common Angelshark - (Squatina squatina)
Smoothback Angelshark - (Squatina oculata)
Sawback Angelshark - (Squatina aculeata)
Atlantic Angelshark - (Squatina dumeril)
Vari's Angelshark - (Squatina varii)
Cailliet's Angelshark - (Squatina caillieti)
Japanese Angelshark - (Squatina japonica)
Clouded Angelshark - (Squatina nebulosa)
David's Angelshark - (Squatina david)
African Angelshark - (Squatina africana)
Western Angelshark - (Squatina pseudocellata)
Australian Angelshark - (Squatina australis)
Orante Angelshark - (Squatina tergocellata)
Eastern Angelshark - (Squatina albipunctata)
Indonesian Angelshark - (Squatina legnota)
Angular Angelshark - (Squatina guggenheim)
Chilean Angelshark - (Squatina armata)
Argentine Angelshark - (Squatina argentina)
Taiwan Angelshark - (Squatina formosa)
Ocellated Angelshark - (Squatina tergocellatoides)
FAMILY: Squatinidae
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Squatina californica
COMMON NAME: Angelshark, Monk fish, Pacific Angelfish
TYPE: Fish
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (assessed 2014)
SIZE:
Recorded birth length of around 1ft, with adults growing just over 5ft.
As with other shark species, Angels are slow growing and take quite a long time to reach sexual maturity. In fact, maturity usually occurs (in both sexes) at around 10 years and after reaching several feet in length!
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN:
The recored maximum age/lifespan of this Angelshark is around 22-35 years.
Reproduction method is internal fertilization and they give birth after 8-10 months to well developed pups; equipped, perfect miniatures of their parents.
DID YOU KNOW:
Female angelsharks can give birth to 1-13 pups (average is 6 pups) after a 10 month gestation occurring between March and June.
DISTRIBUTION:
Pacific Angelsharks live off the coast of North America from Alaska to Mexico.
These sharks prefer the mud and sandy bottoms inshore at about 16.4 ft (5m) deep along coasts and in estuaries.
Other species of Angels are found globally around soft sea bottom near rocky reefs or in kelp forests. Norway to Mauritania, Canary Islands, Mediterranean and in the Black Sea- however they have vanished from some of those regions.
Check it out: "Baby Angelshark(Squatina squatina) yawning."
DIET:
Angel sharks are nocturnal ambush predators. Much like the wobbegong they use their amazing camouflage to blend in with the sand and rocks as they wait for prey to stray within striking range.
Well equipped with powerful jaws, specially designed teeth and a lightning-fast strike the Angel's patient hunting skills allow it to feed on a variety of prey items. From small bony fish like croakers, halibut (even other small sharks or rays!) to crustaceans, squid and octopus.
After feeding, this shark settles back into the bottom substrate, awaiting another prey item and taking cover from would-be predators. It is interesting to note that adult angel sharks have high site fidelity, meaning they return to the same spots/areas every day.
Predators of angel sharks include larger sharks like Great Whites (Carcharodon carcharias) as well as northern elephant seals.
CONSERVATION:
Angel sharks are not generally considered dangerous, but they have been known to bite SCUBA divers when provoked. This shark, although a 'bottom dweller' possesses powerful jaws that can cause serious damage. Through our research, there have not been any confirmed attacks involving this species.
Like any other wild animal - NEVER touch or harass them if you come across a shark. Respect their space and keep our hands and equipment to yourself to avoid injury to you, your party or the animal.
Historically, the Pacific Angel Shark was discarded at sea or used as bait, but in the 1970s a commercial fishery in California began targeting this species as they were sold for their meat.
Today, this shark is being overfished, and scientists consider it to be near threatened with extinction. Even worse is over half of the other 22 species of angelshark are considered either endangered or critically endangered with extinction- making this group one of the most at risk sharks on the planet. Without careful management of the human activities that affect these interesting, flat sharks, populations may continue to decline, perhaps to a species-threatening degree.
Pacific Angelsharks were last assessed by IUCN in 2014. Scientists note the main threat to this shark family is commercial fishing, particularly by trawl fisheries, falling victim to bycatch, line gear and fixed bottom nets that primarily operate in depths where the angle shark occurs. Take into account this sharks slow reproductive rate and late growth/maturation, this species is extremely vulnerable to overfishing.
In 2016, NOAA Fisheries listed the species as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Currently, the gillnet fishery off California is closed until further notice due to the depletion of the angel shark population.
There is hope on the horizon with new technology, scientific studies and tagging developments from organizations working together- like the Angel Shark Conservation Network.
.."Because they are so perfectly camouflaged against the sandy seafloors, where they most commonly reside, the best way to study Angelsharks is at night, when they are more active, and their eyes reflect in the beams of a flashlight. A lot of scientists working with these animals become semi-nocturnal – we are often found at work in the water deep into the night!"
- Joanna Barker,
Marine biologist at Zoological Society of London
Conservation Status of other Angel Species:
Cailliet's Angelshark - Data Deficient (2018)
Atlantic Angelshark - Least Concern (2017)
Vari's Angelshark - Least Concern (2018)
Western Angelshark - Least Concern (2015)
Australian Angelshark - Least Concern (2015)
Orante Angelshark - Least Concern (2015)
Eastern Angelshark - Vulnerable (2015)
David's Angelshark - Near Threatened (2017)
African Angelshark - Near Threatened (2017)
Clouded Angelshark - Endangered (2018)
Angular Angelshark - Endangered (2018)
Taiwan Angelshark - Endangered (2019)
Ocellated Angelshark - Endangered (2020)
Indonesian Angelshark - Critically Endangered (2019)
Hidden Angelshark - Critically Endangered (2018)
Common Angelshark - Critically Endangered (2019)
Smoothback Angelshark - Critically Endangered (2017)
Sawback Angelshark - Critically Endangered (2017)
Japanese Angelshark - Critically Endangered (2019)
Chilean Angelshark - Critically Endangered (2019)
Argentine Angelshark - Critically Endangered (2017)
How to help Angel Sharks:
As a starting point, stay up to date on active campaigns, research and other ways you can support direct action by following these accounts on social media:
Depending on where you live, there are always more, indirect ways to help save sharks. Beach clean ups, educating yourself and friends and being aware of policies and regulations in your area is HUGE! Know your local and federal representatives that can help create more protected areas and more regulation for trade and environmental justice initiatives.
Check out more in-depth information about
this species with below source links and shark organizations!