Japanese angelshark
Japanese angel shark ( Squatina japonica)
The Japanese angel shark ( Squatina japonica ) is a soil- Hai, which is found in the Pacific coastal area of Japan, China and Taiwan. With a maximum length of up to two meters it is the largest angel shark, lying about his life, however, data is scarce.
Appearance and characteristics
The Japanese angel shark can reach a maximum length of up to 200 cm. As with other angel sharks of the hull is strongly flattened with very broad pectoral fins, making the animals more likely to act as long skates in shape. The pectoral fins, however, are clearly separated from the fuselage, while they go ansatzlos in the body in the most rays. They have two dorsal fins, and have no anal fin. The body has a rust - brown to black - color back with densely scattered small black and a few bright spots. Behind the head to approach the pelvic fins will also find larger and arranged in pairs dark brown spots. The underside is white with dark border around the fins and the tail. On the snout area and in other areas of the head are slightly enlarged spines, the total surface is rough by denticles, also located on the dorsal spines in a row on the center line.
The eyes are on top of the head with a concave surface between the eyes, the mouth is terminal, the external nasal openings are provided with short barbels. The spray holes are large. The number of sides, lying down gill openings is five. The nose flaps and the barbels are only slightly fringed or smooth margins.
Dissemination
The distribution area of the Japanese Engelhais is located in the coastal area of the Pacific in the area of Japan, China and Taiwan to a depth of 300 meters.
Way of life
Over the life of the Japanese Engelhais are few data. Like other Engelhai he probably feeds primarily on small bony fishes, molluscs and crustaceans, which he captured as ambush predator lying on the floor. Like all angel sharks he is ovoviviparous - the eggs are hatched in the mother before the young are born alive.
Endangering
The International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN) classifies this shark as endangered ( " Vulnerable "). The shark will be no direct fishing, but mainly caught as by-catch in the ground and trawling, which is carried out in its entire area of distribution; single individuals were detected in fish markets in northern Taiwan in China and Japan. The classification as an endangered species occurred in spite of the low knowledge of the way through the comparison with other angel sharks, where population declines of more than 80% of areas were detected with high fishing pressure.