Squatina squatina

Angelshark (Squatina squatina)

The angelshark is a distinctive bottom-dwelling shark characterized by its flattened body and broad pectoral fins that resemble wings, giving it an angel-like appearance. Growing up to 2.4 meters in length, this species has a mottled brown and gray coloration that provides excellent camouflage against sandy and muddy seabeds. Angelsharks are ambush predators that bury themselves in sediment and strike rapidly at passing fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.

As apex predators, they play a crucial role in maintaining marine ecosystem balance.

Historically distributed throughout the northeastern Atlantic, from Scandinavia to North Africa, and across the Mediterranean Sea, angelsharks inhabited coastal waters at depths of 5-150 meters. They prefer sandy and muddy bottoms in bays, estuaries, and continental shelves. Today, their range has contracted dramatically, with viable populations remaining primarily around the Canary Islands and scattered locations in the Mediterranean.

The species faces severe threats from commercial fishing, both as targeted catch and bycatch in bottom trawls and gillnets. Their shallow coastal habitat overlaps extensively with fishing grounds, making encounters frequent. Habitat degradation from coastal development and pollution further compounds population pressures.

Conservation efforts include fishing restrictions in several European waters, habitat protection measures around the Canary Islands, and captive breeding programs. The species is listed under various national and international protection frameworks.

Despite these measures, the angelshark's outlook remains precarious. Population recovery is hindered by the species' slow reproductive rate and continued fishing pressure across much of its former range.