Clouded angel shark
| Clouded angel shark | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Squatina nebulosa | ||||||||||||
| Regan , 1906 |
The clouded angel shark ( Squatina nebulosa ) is a ground-dwelling shark found in the Pacific in the coastal areas of Japan , China , Korea and Taiwan .
Appearance and characteristics
The clouded angel shark reaches a maximum body length of up to 160 cm. As with other angel sharks, the body is strongly flattened with very broad pectoral fins , which makes the animals look more like long rays in shape . However, the pectoral fins are clearly separated from the trunk, while in most rays they merge seamlessly into the body. They have two dorsal fins and no anal fin . The body has a brown to blue-brown back color with scattered light and numerous dark spots. Eye spots may be present, but are then inconspicuous with light outer rings and a dark core. The underside is white with a dark border around the pectoral fins. There are no enlarged thorns in the head area or on the back.
The eyes are on the top of the head with a concave surface between the eyes, the mouth is terminal, the outer nostrils are provided with short barbels . The injection holes are large. The number of lateral, lower gill openings is five. The nasal flaps and barbels are only slightly fringed or have smooth edges.
distribution
The range of the clouded angel shark is in the coastal area of the Pacific in the area of Japan , China , Korea and Taiwan down to a depth of 330 meters.
Way of life
Little data is available on the way of life of the clouded angel shark. Like other angel sharks, it probably feeds mainly on small bony fish, molluscs and crustaceans , which it prey on lying on the ground as a lurker . Like all angel sharks, it is ovoviviparous - the eggs are hatched in the mother before the young are born alive.
Danger
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies this shark as endangered ("Vulnerable"). The shark is not targeted, but is mainly caught as by-catch in bottom and trawling fisheries that are carried out throughout its range; individual individuals have been found in fish markets in northern Taiwan, China and Japan. The classification as an endangered species was made despite the poor knowledge of the species by comparison with other angel sharks, in which population declines of more than 80% were proven for areas with high fishing pressure.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b Squatina nebulosa in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2010. Posted by: Walsh, JH & Ebert, DA, 2008. Accessed on December 18 of 2010.
literature
- Leonard Compagno , Marc Dando, Sarah Fowler: Sharks of the World . Princeton University Press , Princeton and Oxford 2005, pp. 144-145. ISBN 978-0-691-12072-0
Web links
- Clouded Angel Shark on Fishbase.org (English)