Western Australian angelshark

Taxobox
name = Western Australian angelshark


image_caption =
status = DD
trend =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Chondrichthyes
subclassis = Elasmobranchii
ordo = Squatiniformes
familia = Squatinidae
genus = "Squatina"
species = "S. sp.B"
binomial = "Squatina sp.B"
binomial_authority =

The Western Australian angelshark, "Squatina sp.B", is an angel shark of the family Squatinidae found on the tropical outer continental shelf off northern Western Australia, at depths of between 130 and 310 m. Its length is up to 64 cm.

The Weastern Australian angelshark has a very short snout and its head is concave between the eyes. The nasal barbels have expanded tips and lobate fringes. There are strong orbital thorns and a medial row of thorns in front of the first dorsal fin. Taken only as a bycatch.

Coloration is pale brownish or greyish dorsally with a pattern of widely spaced blue spots and brown blotches, no symmetrical small white spots, but a single small white nuchal spot.

Reproduction is ovoviviparous, with up to 20 pups in a litter.

References

* Compagno, Dando, & Fowler, "Sharks of the World", Princeton University Press, New Jersey 2005 ISBN 0-691-12072-2
* Kyne, P.M. & Cavanagh, R.D. 2003. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/42728/all Squatina sp. nov. B] . [http://www.iucnredlist.org 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. ] Downloaded on 03 August 2007.