Smoothback angelshark
The Smooth angel shark ( Squatina oculata ) is a soil- Hai, which occurs in the eastern Atlantic in coastal areas of West Africa and in the Mediterranean.
Appearance and characteristics
The Smooth angel shark can reach a maximum length of up to 160 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 gray - brown back color with small, round white and black spots and a distinct white patch on the neck. Are located at the bases and tips of the pectoral fins symmetrical dark spots, as well as at the base of the tail and at the bottom of the dorsal fins. Ocellus with a white border may be present. The outer edges of the dorsal and caudal fins are white, the breast and pelvic fins dark. Large spines are located in the nose area and around the eyes, but not on the back.
The eyes are on top of the head with a strongly concave surface between the eyes, the mouth is terminal, the external nasal openings are provided with short barbels. The injection holes are large. The number of sides, lying down gill openings is five. The nasal valves are only slightly fringed or smooth margins, the barbels biramose or lobed.
Dissemination
The distribution area of the Smooth Engelhais located in the eastern Atlantic in coastal areas of West Africa and in the Mediterranean. It ranges in the south to Namibia.
He lives in depths between 20 and 500 meters, where he lives primarily above 100 meters in the outer peripheral region of the continental shelf.
Way of life
About the biology of this shark are few data. He it feeds mainly on small sharks and bony fishes, cephalopods and crustaceans. Like all angel sharks he is ovoviviparous - the eggs are hatched in the mother before the young are born alive. The juveniles have a birth length 24-27 centimeters.
Relationship to man and risk
As of occurring in the same habitat Sawback - angel shark ( Squatina aculeata ) this species was formerly very common. It is primarily threatened by the intensive exploitation of coastal areas and continental shelves by soil and drift nets and bottom lines, the situation for most of its range off the African coast. The sharks are caught as bycatch, thereby reducing the amount has slumped dramatically in the last 50 years; the species is thus apparently disappeared in large areas of the northern Mediterranean and the African coast waters. Together with the two related species Squatina aculeata and Squatina squatina a decrease of 95 % from 1990 to 1998 was noted by the Portuguese fisheries authorities in the area off Morocco and Mauritania. The fishing pressure is correspondingly very large and is likely to intensify in the future.