Angel shark
Squatina sp.
Where is it found?
Marine
Diet and foraging method
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