Ornate angelshark
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| Ornate angelshark | ||||||||||||||||
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| Squatina tergocellata McCulloch, 1914 |
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 Range of ornate angelshark (in blue)
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The ornate angelshark, Squatina tergocellata, is an angel shark of the family Squatinidae endemic to southeast Australia between latitudes 30° S and 35° S, at depths of between 130 and 400 m. Its length is up to 1.4 m.
The ornate angelshark is found on the continental shelves and upper slope. It lies, with only its eyes protruding, buried in sand or mud. The nasal barbels and anterior nasal flaps are strongly fringed, and the head is strongly concave between the large eyes. There are no dorsal spines.
It feeds mainly on bony fishes and squid.
Coloration is a pale yellowish-brown with grey-blue or white spots. There are 3 pairs of large ocelli on the flanks near the pectoral fin bases. The fins are pale with spots or blotches.
Reproduction is ovoviviparous, with 2 to 9 pups per litter.
[edit] References
- "Squatina tergocellata". 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
