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Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) > Squatiniformes (Angel sharks) > Squatinidae (Angel sharks)
Etymology: Squatina: Latin for skate, which angel sharks superficially resemble, presumably tautonymous with Squalus squatina Linnaeus 1758 (no species mentioned) (See ETYFish); formosa: Named for Formosa (Taiwan), type locality (See ETYFish).

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 183 - 220 m (Ref. 54905). Deep-water; 24°N - 22°N, 120°E - 121°E (Ref. 54905)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

North Western Pacific: East coast of Taiwan and Ryuku Islands to SE Japan to Izu Peninsula (Ref. 84150); misidentifiction of S. caillieti in the Philippines (Ref. 86399).

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 55.4 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 84150)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 0. Taiwan angelshark Squatina formosa has broad pectoral fins with outer corner more obtuse and free rear tips narrowly subangular; nasal barbels apparently simple, narrow and tapered. Anterior nasal flaps smooth to weakly fringed; dermal folds on sides of head possibly with a triangular lobe. Rear tip of inner margin of pelvic fins reaching little beyond origin of first dorsal. Very short hypocercal tail. Rows of small spines on midline of back and tail, and on snout and between eyes. Color: no ocelli (eye-like spot) on body (Ref. 247, 31369).

A little-known angelshark found on the outer continental shelf. Possibly larger. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Ovoviviparous, embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Compagno, Leonard J.V. | Collaborators

Compagno, L.J.V., 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 1 - Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/1):1-249. Rome, FAO. (Ref. 247)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)

Endangered (EN) (A2d); Date assessed: 29 August 2019

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Traumatogenic

Human uses

Fisheries: of no interest

FAO - Fisheries: species profile; Publication: search | FishSource |

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Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00676 (0.00295 - 0.01551), b=3.07 (2.88 - 3.26), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 3.8 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be <100).

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Moderate vulnerability (42 of 100).

Squatina formosa Shen & Ting, 1972