Pacific angelshark

What it is

This shark has a flattened body and wide pectoral fins that resemble wings, giving it a ray-like appearance. However, its gill slits are on the sides of the head rather than underneath. It features cone-shaped barbels on its snout and angular fins with pointed tips. The dorsal surface is brown or gray with dark markings, while the underside is white. Small thorns run along its back and tail, though these may fade with age. Adults reach up to 1.5 meters in length.

Where it lives

Its distribution spans cold to warm-temperate waters of the eastern Pacific. Populations exist from southeastern Alaska down to the Gulf of California and along the Baja peninsula. It is most common off central and southern California. Records also extend from Ecuador to southern Chile, though taxonomic uncertainty exists there. The shark prefers soft, flat bottoms near shore, often hiding near rocky reefs, kelp forests, or submarine canyons. Depths range from the surf zone to 205 meters.

How it lives

An ambush predator, it buries itself in sediment during the day to remain hidden. At night, it becomes more active, hunting visually for bony fishes and squid. It selects specific sites near reef junctions and may stay for days before moving. The strike is rapid, with jaws protruding to suck in prey. Large sharks and elephant seals are known predators. Parasites include copepods, tapeworms, and leeches that infest various internal and external tissues.

Breeding and life cycle

Reproduction is ovoviviparous, meaning embryos hatch inside the uterus and rely on a yolk sac. Gestation lasts about ten months, with birth occurring between March and June off Santa Barbara. Females produce an average of six pups, ranging from one to eleven. Newborns are approximately 25 centimeters long and are born in deeper water for protection. Both sexes mature at eight to thirteen years of age. Growth rates slow significantly as the shark reaches adulthood.

Fish and people

Fisheries target this species for its high-quality meat, sold fresh or frozen. A major gillnet fishery operated off Santa Barbara from 1976 to 1994 before collapsing due to overfishing. Current commercial fishing occurs mainly in Mexican waters. Recreational anglers catch them using hooks, spears, or by hand. They are also taken as bycatch in shrimp trawls. While generally sedate, they can bite painfully if provoked or handled.

Questions people ask about Pacific angelshark

Good reading and sources

• Pacific angelshark on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data