Facts: The Angel Shark

Angel sharks are large, bottom-dwelling cartilaginous fish that are distributed in warm, temperate, and tropical waters around the world. About 22 species are recognized. They favor shallow coastal and continental shelf habitats with soft sands. Angel sharks have a flattened head and body, with their eyes on top. Their broad pectoral fins give them a ray-like appearance. They typically spend the day buried in the sand and tend to be more active at night. Many species of sharks must swim to breathe. However, angel sharks have muscles that pump water over their gills and through spiracles on their heads. The spiracles are small holes. This allows angel sharks to rest on the bottom or wait to ambush prey. They feed on animals like bony fish, skates, crustaceans, and cephalopods. They have highly retrusible, trap-like jaws. When a fish comes near, a buried angel shark will lunge forward and suck the prey into its huge mouth to swallow whole. Many angel shark species exhibit seasonal migrations inshore to give birth. They have a slow reproductive rate. Female angel sharks give birth to live young. After a long gestation period, depending on the species, 1 to 25 pups are born. They only give birth every 2 or 3 years. Most species grow over 3 ft long. Some may reach over 6 ft long. Angel sharks are threatened by commercial fishing. Many species, such as the common angel shark and the smoothback angel shark, are listed as critically endangered. At one point, angel sharks were widespread throughout Europe's seas. Now they are extinct from much of their former range. Because of their lie in wait approach to feeding, they are especially vulnerable to fishing trawls and they are easily entangled in large mesh gillnets. Angel sharks are harmless to people and less disturbed or provoked. If disrupted, they can be aggressive and are capable of causing serious cuts with their small but sharp teeth and strong jaws. For more marine facts, click the SUBSCRIBE button!!