Angel shark
Squatina sp.
Where is it found?
Marine
Diet and foraging method
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Ambushes prey to catch them.
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Key adaptations
Their flattened body shape allows them to blend into the ocean floor when they lie half-buried in the sand. They have flexible necks, extensible jaws and sharp teeth to ambush prey at high speed.
Social organisation and mating system
N/A
Did you know that...?
Angel sharks are well camouflaged lieing half-buried in the sand, so they can easily ambush their prey.
Taxonomy
Picture credits:
"전자리상어 (Japanese Angel Shark, Squatina japonica)" by Jinsuk Kim - own work (http://www.animalpicturesarchive.com). Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%EC%A0%84%EC%9E%90%EB%A6%AC%EC%83%81%EC%96%B4_(Japanese_Angel_Shark,_Squatina_japonica).jpg#/media/File:%EC%A0%84%EC%9E%90%EB%A6%AC%EC%83%81%EC%96%B4_(Japanese_Angel_Shark,_Squatina_japonica).jpg
"Squatina squatina lanzarote" by greenacre8 - Angel Shark 6 Nov 06. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Squatina_squatina_lanzarote.jpg#/media/File:Squatina_squatina_lanzarote.jpg
"Squatina australis" by Nick Long - Angel Shark. Licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Squatina_australis.jpg#/media/File:Squatina_australis.jpg
"Squatina squatina lanzarote" by greenacre8 - Angel Shark 6 Nov 06. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Squatina_squatina_lanzarote.jpg#/media/File:Squatina_squatina_lanzarote.jpg
"Squatina australis" by Nick Long - Angel Shark. Licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Squatina_australis.jpg#/media/File:Squatina_australis.jpg