Angel shark
This cartilaginous fish lies halfway between a shark and a ray as it has a wide flat head like rays do, and the back of its body is much more like that of sharks.
Where to find them?
In the Oceans facility.
General notes
This cartilaginous fish lies halfway between a shark and a ray as it has a wide flat head like rays do, and the back of its body is much more like that of sharks.
It has well-developed pectoral fins similarly to the fins that rays have. Its mouth is on the end of its head and is surrounded by small peripheral dermal lobes that allow it to detect food buried in sand.
Its colouring is strikingly similar to the sandy seabeds where it tends to live.
Geographic distribution
It is common in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, but it is not easy to spot as it tends to live at depths of 5-150 m, and is half-buried in sand on seabeds where it waits to catch its prey.
Feeds on
It feeds on benthic animals like fish, crustaceans and molluscs.
Reproduction
It is ovoviviparous, which means that eggs develop and hatch inside the mother’s body.
Curious facts
This species is very sensitive to commercial fishing, which is why it appears on the IUCN red list as a vulnerable species.