Squatiniformes

Squatiniformes is an order of sharks belonging to the Squalomorphi. It contains only a single living genus, Squatina, commonly known as angelsharks. The oldest genus of the order, Pseudorhina, is known from the Late Jurassic of Europe, and three other genera, Cretasquatina, Cretascyllium and Parasquatina, are known from Cretaceous fossils from North America and Europe, though the placement of Parasquatina in the order has been questioned. All living and extinct members share a similar body morphology, with a highly flattened body and enlarged pectoral and pelvic fins, suggestive of a bottom-dwelling ambush predator. The earliest records that can be assigned with confidence to the modern genus come from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) of England.