Smoothback angelshark
(Squatina oculata)

Squatina oculata (Bonaparte, 1840)

Diagnosis

A greatly flattened, raylike shark with prominent ocelli (eye-spots) on body; trunk rather slender; eye equi-sized or larger than spiracle. Nasal flap slightly fringed. No dorsal spines along trunk midline but some spines above eyes and above snout; ventral surfaces with denticles only upon anterior margins of pectoral and pelvic fins and centre of tail.

Rear tips of pelvic fins not extending to the level of the first dorsal fin origin. Mean tooth count 17/17. Colour grey-brown or light reddish-brown dorsally, mottled with darker brown; three pairs of dark rounded markings on the sides of the caudal peduncle; occasionally two further such marks on the pectoral fins as shown in the illustration below.

Several white ocelli in essentially symmetrical, paired array along the dorsum (of trunk) and sometimes also the fins. Paler ventrally.


Size

Attaining 160cm but generally to 150cm; size at birth 24 to 27cm TL.


Status and Distribution

Mediterranean Sea: Relatively frequent; mostly Western and Central Mediterranean from Gibraltar to Western Libya along the North African coast; also Spain, France and Italy; Sicilian Channel, Malta and Ionian Sea coast of Italy; entire Adriatic but probably in decline northwards of Ancona on Italian side; also Corfu and the Greek mainland southwards through the Peloponese; probably also Crete (?); Western Aegean Sea but range eastwards here rather uncertain.  Apparently very scarce or absent further southeast.


Biology

A bottom-dweller preferring sandy or muddy bottoms at depths of 50 to 400m but usually to 100m, this species typically inhabits waters within a temperature range of 13 to 17C.

Behavioural ecology scantily known. Like its congeners, this sharks is a cryptic predator of (primarily) small teleost fishes; nocturnally active and sometimes swimming powerfully above the bottom. Ovoviviparous.