Eastern angelshark

Eastern angelshark
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Elasmobranchii
Order:	Squatiniformes
Family:	Squatinidae
Genus:	Squatina
Species:	S. albipunctata
Binomial name
Squatina albipunctata Last & W. T. White, 2008
Range of the Eastern angelshark

The eastern angelshark (Squatina albipunctata) is an angelshark of the family Squatinidae.

Born: 30 cm TL; Mature: ~ 91 cm (M), 107 cm (F) TL; Max: 110 cm (M), 130 cm (F) TL.

Colour: Are a yellow-brown to a chocolate-brown, obtains dense patterns of small white dark edged symmetrical spots, also with many large brownish blotches. Has white nuchal spot (no ocelli). Also has light unspotted unpaired fins. Body: Has a very short snout. Has concave interorbital space and heavy orbital thorns which can be distinguished from Squatina australis. The nasal barbels have extended tips and lobate fringes. Has low lateral head folds. The spiracles are close to the eyes, and are wider than eye-length. Obtains strong orbital thorns, and no medial row of predorsal thorns are shown.

Pacific: eastern Australia. Found between Cairns, Queensland and Lakes Entrance, Victoria. 17°S - 38°S.

Tropical; Outer continental shelf and upper slope, benthopelagic, marine. Usually found in sand, 37-4 15 m down, but occasionally up to 60 m.

Unknown.

Diet: Probably feeds on bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Reproduction: Up to 20 pups per litter.

IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.

Harmless.

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years; moderate to high vulnerability.

• Compagno, Dando, & Fowler, Sharks of the World, Princeton University Press, New Jersey 2005 ISBN 0-691-12072-2
• Pogonoski, J. & Pollard, D. 2003. Squatina sp. nov. A. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 3 August 2007.