Ocellated angelshark
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| Ocellated angelshark | ||||||||||||||||
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| Squatina tergocellatoides Chen, 1963 |
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 Range of ocellated angelshark (in blue)
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The ocellated angelshark, Squatina tergocellatoides, is an angel shark of the family Squatinidae found only from the Taiwan Straits in the western Pacific between latitudes 28° N and 22° N and in northern Malaysia. Its length is up to 63 cm.
The little-known ocellated angelshark has strong, finely fringed nasal barbels, and strongly fringed anterior nasal flaps. The head is concave between the eyes.
Identification is based on the following characteristics: line of midback thorns absent; prominent ocelli on pectoral fins present; pelvic fin tips do not reach the first dorsal origin.
No museum specimens are known to exist for this species at present. The holotype is believed to be lost.
Coloration is light yellowish-brown with a dense scattering of round white spots dorsally, and six pairs of large ocelli (eye-like spots) on the pectoral and pelvic fins, and the caudal peduncle, and white below. The dorsal fins have a black base and leading edge.
Reproduction is ovoviviparous.
[edit] References
- "Squatina tergocellatoides". 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
- Walsh, JH and DA Ebert. 2007. A review of the systematics of western North Pacific angel sharks, genus Squatina, with redescriptions of Squatina formosa, S. japonica, and S. nebulosa (Chondrichthyes: Squatiniformes, Squatinidae). Zootaxa 1551: 31-47.
- Yano, K., A Ali, AC Gambang, IA Hamid, SA Razak, and A Zainal. 2005. Sharks and rays of Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam, Marine Fishery Resources Development and Managment Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, 591pp.
