Indonesian angelshark

The Indonesian angelshark (Squatina legnota) is a rare angelshark in the family Squatinidae, known only from a few specimens found at fish landing sites in southern Indonesia, at Palabuhanratu and Cilacap on Java, Kedonganan on Bali and Tanjung Luar on Lombok. It was described in 2008 by the CSIRO researchers Peter Last and William White, and its species name comes from a Greek word meaning having a coloured border, for the dark leading edge of its pectoral fins. Like other angelsharks it has a flattened, ray-like body, enlarged pectoral and pelvic fins, a short blunt snout and a well-developed tail. It is grayish brown above with dark saddle markings under the dorsal fins, white below, and the largest known specimen was 1.34 metres long. It probably lives on the bottom of deep continental slope waters. It is caught rarely on demersal longlines for meat and fins and is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Its closest relative is the Taiwan angelshark.