Out of the many shark species of the sea, angel sharks are some of the most distinct. Angel sharks hunt mostly along the ocean floor and are adept at staying hidden, unlike many sharks that spend their life in open water. Many of these ocean dwellers are now considered to be critically endangered, and the clock is ticking for humans to save these rare creatures. Learn more about the angel shark and their standout features below.

Species Background

Commonly mistaken for manta rays, the angel shark has a very similar appearance to these bottom-feeding beasts. Angel sharks have a flat body with broad pectoral fins that grow out to the sides. This is in direct contrast to most sharks who usually have a round body and upward-facing fins.

The angel shark diet includes ocean life like small fish, crustaceans, mollusks and squids. The eyes of an angel shark are located on the top of the head so that they can easily spot prey along continental shelves. Most of their time is spent inconspicuously hiding on the ocean floor near kelp forests or reefs, and waiting for the perfect prey to pass by. There are at least 22 different species of angel shark currently known to humans, and many of these are at-risk of going extinct.

Angel sharks are commonly found in tropical & warm temperate oceans, mostly on continental shelves. Certain species of angel shark can be found in depths of up to 500 feet; however, this is a rare sight unless they’re traveling long distances. Angel sharks are migratory, but they mostly travel along the coastline on their way to the poles. These finned fellows are nocturnal, and they’ll mostly stay in the same area for around ten days before moving along to a new location.

Although many sharks are considered the top of the food chain, angel sharks still have a few well-known predators. Great white sharks, broadnose sevengill sharks and northern elephant seals are other species that present a serious risk to angel sharks. Humans are also a legitimate predation risk, since angel sharks can easily get caught in fishing nets or be sought for recreational fishing.

Fun Features

Sharks in general have a handful of wild evolutionary adaptations that have helped them survive over millions of years. One of these is called a spiracle, and it’s located just behind the eyes of the angel shark. The spiracle is part of the respiratory system, and it helps deliver oxygen straight to the brain. In addition to this handy update, angel sharks have five gill slits on the sides of their head while most sharks have them underneath, and this supplies oxygen directly to the spiracle for distribution.

While species like the whale shark have layers of tiny teeth to siphon out plankton, angel sharks have nine rows of teeth on top & ten on the bottom of their mouth to quickly latch onto prey. To aid in the hunting process, angel sharks have two barbell-type appendages that stick out at end of their flat snout. These are used like whiskers to detect prey when it’s close by on the ocean floor.

Even stranger, young angel sharks have tiny thorns on the top of their head and back. Angel sharks also have features called ocellus, or fake eyes, during childhood to defend against potential predators looking for and easy snack. Both of these features are likely to disappear as the sharks age since they can adequately defend themselves as adults.

Can angel sharks hurt you?

Angel sharks have a powerful bite that can be used to protect them from situations they may deem threatening. However, angel sharks do not attack unless they are provoked, so giving them space is the best idea. Since they tend to bury themselves and hunt along the ocean floor, angel sharks are easy to step on during an underwater trek. Be sure to move slowly in these situations so you don’t end up with a nasty bite!

Many species of angel shark use their mottled skin patterns to camouflage themselves with the sand on the ocean floor. While humans may be able to notice this difference with practice, prey that being targeted often do not sense the angel shark’s presence. Once the prey is within their reach, the angel shark utilizes a quick & powerful motion to easily catch their prey. Their nine & ten rows of teeth aid in helping them catch their next meal.

Even juvenile angel sharks are adept at catching prey this way. A recent video caught off the coast of Wales shows a foot-long angel shark dip down and slap the ocean floor with its head before disappearing into a cloud of dust. In this moment, a small fish swims by, unsuspecting of what’s to come. As the fish is almost out of reach, the angel shark quickly snatches it up with its lightning-fast reflexes, and relaxes back to the sea floor to enjoy its meal. This interaction shows that predation instincts start quite early in young angel sharks.

Is an angel shark an actual shark?

Despite the obvious differences in appearance, angel sharks are real sharks! It may be difficult to classify exactly which angel shark, since there are at least 22 different species, but their ray-like characteristics do not change this fact.

There are a few different ways to tell a manta ray and an angel shark apart. For starters, angel sharks have two flat fins on each side of their body, compared to one wing on manta rays. The tail is also markedly different, since angel sharks have a thick tail with a large tail fin and two vertical fins, while manta rays have a wispy tail and no identifying fins.

How big is an angel shark?

Compared to other shark species, most species of angel shark are relatively small. Adults grow to be somewhere between five and six feet long, and this is the extent of their growth. As far as weight, angel sharks range from 70 to 80 pounds when fully grown.

When angel sharks are first born, they’re usually 9 to 12 inches long and not much larger than an average fish. Only 20% of angel shark pups will reach adulthood, which may partially explain their critically endangered status.

Why are angel sharks going extinct?

Certain species of angel sharks are listed as critically endangered, and this puts at least eight of these species at risk. The common angel shark (Squatina squatina) along with seven other angel shark species are critically endangered as of 2021, and four additional species, including the angular & clouded angel shark, are endangered. That only leaves eight angel shark species that are not currently at risk of extinction.

As a result of capture in commercial fishing nets, as well as recreational fishing and habitat degradation, numbers of angel sharks are gradually dwindling. Although it’s not usually the intent to catch them for commercial fishing, they are often caught in the nets with other captured fish. Since only about 2 out of 10 sharks get thrown back alive, this does not bode well for the angel shark’s overall odds of survival.

Oceans are warming at an unprecedented rate as a result of climate change. This may not seem like an outright danger, but there are many ocean species that are used to a delicate range of water temperatures for survival. Drastic changes to these environments can spell disaster for many aquatic dwellers, and the angel shark is no exception. Habitat degradation is a direct result of these upheavals and can leave angel sharks with nowhere to comfortably live. This leaves angel sharks with two options in the end to either migrate or attempt to adapt, and sometimes neither of these are successful.

How long do angel sharks live for?

The normal lifespan for an angel shark is somewhere between 25 and 35 years. This estimate doesn’t take into account the outright risks of predation or capture, and it’s ultimately dependent on how the angel shark can adapt to its surroundings.

Angel sharks are considered to be one of the most unique shark species in existence for their flattened ray-like appearance. These critically endangered creatures are incredible examples of adapted sharks that pose no threat to humans, and they’re worth saving before it’s too late.

Works Cited

No author specified. (May 2012). A Kinder, Gentler Shark. AquaViews Online Scuba Magazine. Retrieved December 21, 2021, from https://www.leisurepro.com/blog/explore-the-blue/kinder-gentler-shark/.

Rafferty, J. P. (August 11, 2021). Angel shark. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved December 21, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/animal/angel-shark-fish-genus.

No author or date specified. Angel shark species search. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved December 21, 2021, from https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=angel%20shark&searchType=species.

No date or author specified. Angel Shark factfile. Gran Caneria Diving. Retrieved December 21, 2021, from https://www.divingingrancanaria.com/blog/marine-life-in-gran-canaria-angel-shark.

Specktor, B. (September 10, 2021). Elusive angel shark shows off its ninja ambush skills in rare underwater footage. Retrieved December 21, 2021, from https://www.livescience.com/rare-angel-shark-sighting-ninja-attack.