Pacific angelshark
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| Squatina californica Ayres, 1859 |
The Pacific angelshark, Squatina californica, is an angel shark of the family Squatinidae found in the subtropical waters of the eastern Pacific from southeastern Alaska to the Gulf of California (and possibly from Costa Rica to southern Chile) between latitudes 60° N and 22° N, at depths down to 200 m. Its length is up to 1.52 m.
The Pacific angelshark is a sluggish and inactive species that buries itself in sand or mud, and is also found around rocks, heads of submarine canyons, and sometimes near kelp forests. The head is concave between the eyes. The prominent thorns in juveniles are either small or absent in adults. It feeds on bottom and epibenthic fishes, including croakers, California halibut, and squid.
Coloration is reddish-brown to dark brown or blackish with scattered light spots (set around dark blotches in adults). There are large paired dark blotches on the back and tail.
Reproduction is ovoviviparous, with 6 to 10 pups in a litter.
[edit] References
- "Squatina californica". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. July 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Compagno, Dando, & Fowler, Sharks of the World, Princeton University Press, New Jersey 2005 ISBN 0-691-12072-2
