The Pacific angelshark, Squatina californica, is a species of angelshark found in the eastern Pacific Ocean from southeastern Alaska to the Gulf of California and separately from Ecuador to Chile, where it occupies shallow coastal waters over sandy flats near rocky reefs and kelp forests. It has a flattened body with enlarged pectoral and pelvic fins, cone-shaped barbels on its snout, and brown or gray coloring with dark markings, reaching a maximum length of about 1.5 meters. An ambush predator that feeds mainly on bony fish and squid, it buries itself in the seafloor by day and is more active at night, remaining at a chosen ambush site for several days before moving on, and it reproduces ovoviviparously, with females typically bearing about six young each spring. It poses little danger to humans unless provoked, though a gillnet fishery targeting it off Santa Barbara collapsed from overfishing between 1976 and 1994, and the IUCN lists the species as Vulnerable. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Living or Extinct Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Pacific Angelshark (Wikidata)
In Biome
Source Pacific Angelshark (Wikipedia)
In Ecosystem
Source Pacific Angelshark (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Squatina californica
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyPrimary Diet, Squatina californica
Primary Diet carnivore carnivore
Conservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
View the Source 2. Pacific Angelshark (Wikipedia)
Introduction
A targeted gillnet fishery for this species began off Santa Barbara, California in 1976 and ended in 1994, after overfishing and new regulations led to its near-collapse. This species is now mainly fished in Mexican waters. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed this species as Near Threatened, as the Californian population is largely protected and recovering, while the impact of Mexican fisheries is unknown.
Introduction
The Pacific angelshark (Squatina californica) is a species of angelshark, family Squatinidae, found in the eastern Pacific Ocean from Alaska to the Gulf of California, and from Ecuador to Chile, although those in the Gulf of California and southeastern Pacific may in fact be separate species. The Pacific angelshark inhabits shallow, coastal waters on sandy flats, usually near rocky reefs, kelp forests, or other underwater features.
- Wikidata Q29150 (P225 taxon name)
Lead section
A targeted gillnet fishery for this species began off Santa Barbara, California in 1976 and ended in 1994, after overfishing and new regulations led to its near-collapse.
- In Biome: Kelp Forest, Wikipedia intro: ". The Pacific angelshark inhabits shallow, coastal waters on sandy flats, usually near rocky reefs, kelp forests, or other underwater features. This species res..."
- In Ecosystem: Gulf of California, Wikipedia intro: "a species of angelshark, family Squatinidae, found in the eastern Pacific Ocean from Alaska to the Gulf of California, and from Ecuador to Chile, although those..."
View the Source3. Pacific Angelshark (Wikidata)
WikidataStatements section, conservation status (P141)
Wikidata Q29150: vulnerable (P141).
- Child Taxon Of: Chondrichthyes, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source 4. NatureServe Explorer: Squatina californica
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "GNR"
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