African angelshark
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| Squatina africana Regan, 1908 |
The African angelshark, Squatina africana, is an angel shark of the family Squatinidae found in the tropical and warm temperate waters of the western Indian Ocean from Tanzania to the eastern Cape coast of South Africa between latitudes 4° S and 32° S, at depths down to 500 m. Its length is up to 1.22 m.
The African angelshark has a squared-off snout and its head is concave between the eyes. The nasal barbels are simple and flat, and have tapering tips or are spatulate. There are strong thorns on the head, but not on the back. It is found on the continental shelf and uppermost slope, from the surf line close inshore to 500 m. It feeds on bony fish, squid and octopus. Taken only as a bycatch, and sometimes caught by surf anglers.
Coloration is brown above with a reticulated pattern of light and dark spots, and white below.
Reproduction is ovoviviparous, with 7 to 11 pups in a litter.
[edit] References
- "Squatina africana". 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
