The angel shark (Squatina squatina) is a flat-bodied, ray-like shark that lies buried in sand to ambush passing prey. Once common from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, it is now Critically Endangered and largely confined to the Canary Islands, its last major stronghold. Learn its facts, range, and how conservation projects are trying to save it.
- Status: Critically endangered
- Known as: Angel Shark, Angelshark
- Estimated numbers left in the wild: Likely several thousand, but extinct over most of its former range and reduced to a rare remnant even where it survives.
Unlike true deep-sea sharks, angel sharks stay mostly in shallow coastal waters, rarely diving deeper than about 150 meters (490 feet).
Their slow metabolism and ambush hunting style let them stay motionless in the sand for long stretches while waiting for prey. These shark species are known for their unusual morphology: enlarged pectoral AND pelvic fins give them a flattened, ray-like body, but unlike some other bottom-dwelling sharks they lack barbels (whisker-like sensory organs).
Description
It is an ambush predator, burying itself in sand or mud and leaving nothing but its eyes above the surface, much like a huge stingray. When its quarry swims past within range, the shark bursts from its cover to kill and devour the startled sea creature.
They have a number of predators, chief among them are the Great White Shark and the Hammerhead Shark. Other predators include the Killer Whale, the Tiger Shark, and the Bull Shark. These sharks prey on this endangered species for food, or as part of their natural behavior.
Anatomy and Appearance
Fascinatingly similar to many rays and stingrays, the angel shark is an actual shark adapted to lurking on the bottom in soft sand or mud. Male measure 1.8 meters, while females are larger at 2.4 meters.
These sharks can reach a weight of 80 kilograms, though most individuals are smaller.
They have wide and flat bodies, with large pectoral fins extending out on either side and large eyes positioned atop the head rather than on its sides, giving a wide field of view.
The belly is white, while the upper surface varies considerably, from grey to dull brick red to greenish-brown, almost always with many small white speckles for camouflage in the sand.
They have small but sharp teeth, adapted to smaller types of prey. Though their bite is painful, it is nowhere near as damaging to a human as larger sharks and is used only in self-defense. They swim freely at night – it only lurks in an ambush during the daylight hours.
Species
There are more than 20 recognized species in the angel shark family (Squatinidae), including the Common angel shark (Squatina squatina, the focus of this profile), the Pacific angel shark (Squatina californica), and the Japanese angelshark (Squatina japonica).
Location
The angel shark’s range is much diminished from its previous extent, and the species is now confined to the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and the Canary Islands rather than extending down to the Mediterranean Sea as it once did.
These shark species live on the continental shelf with soft sand and mud on the bottom and are seldom found at depths greater than 150 meters. These sharks sometimes enter brackish estuarine environments.
Angel Shark Habitat
It is a bottom-dwelling shark found mainly in the Northeast Atlantic, with the Canary Islands now its last major stronghold. It favors shallow, sandy or muddy seabeds and adjacent seagrass beds rather than rocky or coral habitat. It hunts mainly at night, using a keen sense of smell to find prey hidden in the sand.
Angel Shark Diet and Nutrition
These sharks are carnivorous fish that typically feeds on bony fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and occasionally on other sharks. This species has a specially adapted jaw that allows it to easily crush the shells of its prey.
They are also known to eat seagrass- a type of plant that grows in the ocean. gets most of the nutrients it needs from its diet. However, these shark species can also absorb nutrients from the water in which it lives.
Typical prey includes skates and flatfishes swimming by squid and cuttlefish, the occasional sea bird, or crabs skittering over the surface of the sand or mud.
See Related: Is a Fish an Animal? Here’s What You Need to Know
Angel Shark Mating Habits
Like most sharks, angel sharks show no evidence of long-term pair bonding. Mating occurs through internal fertilization, with the male using a pair of claspers to transfer sperm; the Canary Islands host a seasonal mating aggregation each autumn.
Like many sharks, these endangered species of sharks give birth to live young, which is accomplished by an adaptation allowing the eggs to hatch inside the mother rather than after being laid.
Pups are born 20 to 30 centimeters (8 to 12 inches) long, with litters ranging from about 7 to 25 pups depending on the mother’s size. Gestation lasts roughly 8 to 10 months, and females appear to breed only once every two years, though many details of the species’ life cycle remain unclear due to its rarity and the difficulty of studying it in the wild.
Role in the Ecosystems
The angel shark is an important part of its ecosystem. As an ambush predator of bottom-dwelling fish and crustaceans, it helps keep prey populations in check and plays a role in the food chain.
If they were to go extinct, it would have a devastating impact on the ocean ecosystems. These sharks are an important predator in the ocean food chain, and their disappearance would cause a ripple effect that would disrupt the delicate balance of the marine ecosystem.
They eat small fish and crustaceans, which in turn keep populations of these prey animals in check. Without this species to keep them in check, these populations would explode, resulting in widespread ecological imbalance.
Relationship With Humans
Unfortunately, humans are a big part of the problem. They are often caught and killed for food. They are also often caught in fishing nets and other gear. they are also threatened by habitat loss.
Angel Shark Facts
Here are some of the interesting facts about these shark species
- These species are a type of shark that has a very gentle nature and is quite curious.
- They can grow up to 2.4 meters (about 8 feet) long and weigh up to roughly 80 kilograms (176 pounds).
- They usually live in the shallow waters of the ocean and prefer to stay near the bottom.
- They are mostly nocturnal and feed on small fish, crustaceans, and other invertebrates.
- They are ovoviviparous, meaning that the eggs hatch inside the mother’s body, and the babies are born live.
Conservation Status
Angel Shark is a beautiful creature that is quickly disappearing from our oceans. They are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which means that it is at a high risk of extinction in the wild.
These shark species are threatened by overfishing and habitat loss. They is slow to mature and reproduce, so it is very susceptible to being overfished. Habitat loss is also a major threat to the shark, as they rely on coastal habitats for survival.
Threats
Angel sharks have been decimated by the use of trawling nets, which are dragged over the bottom of the ocean and thus scoop up these ambush predators as by-catch.
This factor alone is enough to threaten the species with extinction and is likely responsible for wiping it out in the Mediterranean and much of the North Sea.
Some fishing occurs for food or for the oil that can be extracted from the shark, but this occurs at a low level and would not be a hazard to the shark’s survival without the main threat of the by-catch problem.
Some of the primary threats to the shark include:
- Commercial fishing
- Habitat loss
- Pollution
- Climate change
If we want to ensure the survival of the species, we need to take steps to protect their habitat and reduce the threats they face. You can help by supporting organizations that are working to protect this species, and by educating others about the importance of Angel Shark conservation.
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Conservation efforts
Conservation efforts for the angel shark are still limited relative to the scale of its decline. It is legally protected in the Balearic Islands and parts of the Canary Islands, and it is listed on Annex I of the Barcelona Convention and Appendix II of CITES, but enforcement and habitat protection remain patchy across much of its former range. Other protection plans are still being developed in several range states.
One notable success is the captive breeding program at Deep Sea World in Scotland, which in 2019 recorded the first captive-bred angel shark pups born in the UK – 19 pups from a single litter, the first measuring around 15 centimeters at birth. Programs like this could eventually support reintroduction efforts alongside habitat protection in the wild.
There are many great conservation efforts underway to save Angel Shark. Some of the most successful include:
- Establishing sanctuaries
- Regulating fishing practices
- Educating people and local communities about the importance of shark conservation
See Related: Dusky Shark
Organizations
Do you know of or are you a part of an organization that works to conserve the Angel Shark? Then please contact us to have it featured on Our Endangered World.
Final Thoughts
Angel Shark is one of the most beautiful creatures in the ocean- but it’s also one of the most endangered. They are often caught accidentally by fishermen targeting other species and hunting for their flesh and fins, which are used in shark fin soup.
These shark species have been decimated by fishing practices such as trawling nets, which scoop up these ambush predators as bycatch. They are listed as “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List, facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
There are many reasons why these sharks are endangered, but the main threat to their survival is fishing. Shark conservation efforts are out-weighed by their extinction risks from fishing, the main threat to these sharks’ survival.
See Related: How Do Shark Help The Ecosystem
FAQ
What is Angel Shark?
The angel shark (Squatina squatina) is a flat, ray-like shark that lies buried in sand to ambush prey. It is classified as Critically Endangered and is now found mainly around the Canary Islands, with only fragmented populations remaining in the Mediterranean and Northeast Atlantic. Its sandy, mottled brown coloring helps it blend into the seafloor.
What does Angel Shark eat?
Angel shark is a fish that mostly eats crustaceans and smaller fish. It can be found in the North and Eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, lying buried in the sand at the bottom of shallow coastal waters.
How big is Angel Shark?
Angel sharks can grow up to about 2.4 meters (8 feet) long and weigh up to roughly 80 kilograms (176 pounds), with females larger than males. Newborn pups measure only 20 to 30 centimeters (about 8 to 12 inches) at birth.
Where do Angel Sharks live?
The angel shark is found mainly in the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean, with the Canary Islands now its last significant stronghold; historic Pacific-based ranges described for this species are inaccurate.
It favors shallow, coastal waters over sandy or muddy seabeds, rarely occurring deeper than about 150 meters (490 feet), and often rests partly buried in the sand during the day.
What are the threats to Angel Sharks?
Angel sharks are threatened mainly by bottom-trawl and gillnet fisheries, which accidentally catch them as bycatch; being slow-moving bottom-dwellers, they have little chance of escaping fishing gear.
Coastal development, pollution, and degradation of the shallow sandy and seagrass habitats they depend on for feeding and nursery grounds add further pressure on already-fragmented populations.
Do angel sharks attack humans?
Angel sharks are not aggressive toward humans and rely on camouflage and stillness rather than confrontation.
However, waders and divers who accidentally step on or provoke one can receive a painful bite in self-defense, since their jaws and needle-sharp teeth are built for a fast ambush strike.
Is the angel shark rare?
Yes—today the angel shark is considered rare across almost all of its historic range.
It is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, having disappeared from the North Sea and much of the Mediterranean; populations continue to decline rather than recover, and the Canary Islands are now its last major stronghold.
Its shallow coastal habitat and slow reproduction make it especially vulnerable to overfishing and bycatch.
How can I help Angel Sharks?
Angel sharks are endangered for many reasons, but one of the main threats to their survival is fishing. They are often caught accidentally by fishermen targeting other fish, and they often die after being caught.
There are several things you can do to help Angel Sharks:
– Learn more about Angel Sharks and spread the word about how amazing they are!
– Campaign against destructive fishing practices that kill these shark species accidentally.
– Support organizations that are working to protect sharks and their habitats.
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