Taiwan angelshark
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| Squatina formosa Shen & Ting, 1972 |
The Taiwan angelshark, Squatina formosa, is an angel shark of the family Squatinidae found around Taiwan between latitudes 24° N and 22° N, at depths of between 185 and 220 m. Its length is up to 46 cm for an immature female - there are no adult specimens.
The Taiwan angelshark is a little-known angelshark found on the outer continental shelf. It has broad rounded pectoral fins with the outer corner more obtuse, and free rear tips narrowly subangular. Nasal barbels are apparently simple, narrow and tapered. Anterior nasal flaps are smooth to weakly fringed. The rear tip of the inner margin of the pelvic fins reach a little beyond the origin of the first dorsal fin. Very short hypocercal tail. There are rows of small thorns on the midline of the back and tail, and on the snout and between the eyes. The head is concave between the eyes.
Coloration is yellow-grey or brown with small paired dark ocelli. There are small light spots between the head and the first dorsal fin, and there are many small dark brown spots, larger irregular blotches, and a saddle alongside the dorsal fins.
Reproduction is ovoviviparous.
[edit] References
- "Squatina formosa". 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
