Diagnostic Description
provided by FAO species catalogs
fieldmarks: An angelshark with a broad trunk, dorsal spines weak or absent, heavily fringed nasal barbels and anterior nasal flaps, lateral dermal folds of head without triangular lobes, and no large ocelli on body. Trunk very broad. Anterior nasal barbels strongly fringed; posterior margin of anterior nasal flaps between nasal barbels and tips strongly fringed; distance from eye to spiracle at least 1.5 times eye diameter; dermal folds on sides of head without triangular lobes. Origin of first dorsal fin usually about opposite pelvic rear tips; pectoral fins rather short and high, free rear tips narrowly subangular. No large spines on midline of back and tail or on snout and above eyes; lateral trunk denticles without ridges. No ocelli on body, but with numerous small, symmetrical, white spots.
- bibliographic citation
- FAO species catalogue Vol.4. Sharks of the world. An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Shark Species Known to Date Part 1 - Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. Compagno, L.J.V.1984FAO Fisheries Synopsis. , (125) Vol.4, Part 1.
- author
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
Distribution
provided by FAO species catalogs
Western South Pacific: Australia (South and Western Australia, New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria).
- bibliographic citation
- FAO species catalogue Vol.4. Sharks of the world. An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Shark Species Known to Date Part 1 - Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. Compagno, L.J.V.1984FAO Fisheries Synopsis. , (125) Vol.4, Part 1.
- author
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
Size
provided by FAO species catalogs
Maximum total length about 152 cm.
- bibliographic citation
- FAO species catalogue Vol.4. Sharks of the world. An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Shark Species Known to Date Part 1 - Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. Compagno, L.J.V.1984FAO Fisheries Synopsis. , (125) Vol.4, Part 1.
- author
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
Brief Summary
provided by FAO species catalogs
A common but tittle-known angelshark of the continental shelf and uppermost slope, on or near bottom,from close inshore to 256 m depth. Ovoviviparous.
- bibliographic citation
- FAO species catalogue Vol.4. Sharks of the world. An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Shark Species Known to Date Part 1 - Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. Compagno, L.J.V.1984FAO Fisheries Synopsis. , (125) Vol.4, Part 1.
- author
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
Benefits
provided by FAO species catalogs
Taken by bottom trawlers in Australia. Utilization unknown.
- bibliographic citation
- FAO species catalogue Vol.4. Sharks of the world. An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Shark Species Known to Date Part 1 - Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. Compagno, L.J.V.1984FAO Fisheries Synopsis. , (125) Vol.4, Part 1.
- author
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
Diagnostic Description
provided by Fishbase
Numerous dark spots on lower lobe of caudal fin (Ref. 31369). Pectoral fins greatly enlarged, with broad triangular lobe extending forward from their bases on either side of the gill slits; pelvic fins enlarged and wing-like; caudal very short, nearly symmetrical but not lunate, its lower lobe slightly longer than the upper (Ref. 31369).
- Recorder
- Cristina V. Garilao
Life Cycle
provided by Fishbase
Ovoviviparous, embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449).
Morphology
provided by Fishbase
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 0
- Recorder
- Cristina V. Garilao
Trophic Strategy
provided by Fishbase
Occurs from close inshore to 130 m depth. Feeds mainly on small fishes and crustaceans.
- Recorder
- Drina Sta. Iglesia
Biology
provided by Fishbase
A common but little-known angelshark found on the continental shelf and uppermost slope, on or near the bottom (Ref. 247, 75154). Occurs from close inshore to 130 m depth (Ref. 31369, 6871). Feeds mainly on small fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 6871). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 247). Flesh is highly esteemed (Ref. 6871).
- Recorder
- Kent E. Carpenter
Importance
provided by Fishbase
fisheries: minor commercial; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family
- Recorder
- Kent E. Carpenter
Australian angelshark
provided by wikipedia EN
The Australian angelshark (Squatina australis) is a species of angelshark, family Squatinidae, found in the subtropical waters of southern Australia from Western Australia to New South Wales between latitudes 18°S and 41°S, at depths down to 255 m (840 ft). Its length is up to 1.52 m (5 ft). Reproduction is ovoviviparous, with up to 20 pups in a litter.
Description
The Australian angelshark has a broad, vertically compressed body and large triangular pectoral fins with free trailing flaps. The snout has fringed barbels beside the nostrils and a pair of spiracles. Each of these is set at a distance from the eye of about one and a half times the diameter of the eye. There are two small dorsal fins set far back and the tail fin is small. The maximum length is about 152 centimetres (60 in) and this shark has no large eyespots on the body.[2] Male individuals are fully mature at around 800 millimetres (31 in) total length.[3]
Distribution and habitat
The Australian angelshark is native to the continental shelf of southern Australia being found along the coasts of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales at depths down to about 130 metres (430 ft). It is usually found on sandy or muddy seabeds and in seagrass meadows, often close to rocky reefs.[4]
Behaviour
The Australian angelshark lies semi-submerged in the sediment on the seabed during the day, eating anything that comes too close. It emerges at night to actively seek out prey.[1] Its diet consists of small fish, crustaceans and other invertebrates.[5]
This shark is ovoviviparous, retaining its developing embryos in its oviduct, with a litter of up to twenty young being born. Little is known of its breeding habits, but the closely related Pacific angelshark (Squatina californica) has a gestation period of about ten months.[4]
Status
The Australian angelshark is listed by the IUCN in its Red List of Threatened Species as being of "Least Concern". This is because the population size is large and appears to be stable. The fish is used for food, being marketed under the name of "monkfish", but is not easily caught by line-fishing or netting because of its habit of lying immersed in the sediment but can be caught by dragging a trawl across the seabed.[4]
References
-
^ a b Walker, T.I.; Pogonoski, J.; Pollard, D.A. (2016). "Squatina australis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41862A68645631. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41862A68645631.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
-
^ "Australian angelshark (Squatina australis)". Sharks of the World. Marine Species Identification Portal. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
-
^ Raoult, V.; Peddemors, V. & Williamson, J. E. (2016). "Biology of angel sharks (Squatina sp.) and sawsharks (Pristiophorus sp.) caught in south-eastern Australian trawl fisheries and the New South Wales shark-meshing (bather-protection) program". Marine and Freshwater Research. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
-
^ a b c Pogonoski, J.; Pollard, D (2003). "Squatina australis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2003. Retrieved 2013-09-21.old-form url
-
^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Squatina australis" in FishBase. July 2006 version.
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
Australian angelshark: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
The Australian angelshark (Squatina australis) is a species of angelshark, family Squatinidae, found in the subtropical waters of southern Australia from Western Australia to New South Wales between latitudes 18°S and 41°S, at depths down to 255 m (840 ft). Its length is up to 1.52 m (5 ft). Reproduction is ovoviviparous, with up to 20 pups in a litter.
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
