Argentine angelshark

📖 Overview

Argentine angelshark (Squatina argentina), first described by Marini, 1930 is a very large fish in the family Squatinidae (order Squatiniformes). Adults typically reach 170.00 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 100 to 400 metres. It occurs in Subtropical waters. Diet is predominantly piscivorous, targeting other fish and larger prey. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Critically Endangered.The species is venomous and potentially dangerous to handle and a species of conservation concern.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

This species is distinguished from its congeners by having a darker background color, ranging from dark-brown to reddish-brown (vs. light-brown to dark-brown in S. guggenheim and S. occulta), with higher number of tooth rows with 24 vertical tooth rows in both upper and lower jaws, tooth formula 12-12/12-12; (vs. 9-9 to 10-10/9-9 to 11-11 in S. occulta, and 9-9 to 11-11/9-9 to 11-11 in S. guggenheim), and with anterior half of pectoral fin margin convex (vs. anterior margin of pectoral fin straight); differs from S. guggenheim and S. occulta with the interspiracular surface covered by small and homogeneous dorsal denticles, without enlarged denticles (vs. a pair of enlarged, conical and morphologically distinct dermal denticles between spiracles in S. occulta and S. guggenheim); differs from S. occulta by lacking blackish irregular small spots surrounding white spots on dorsal surface (i.e. absence of ocelli-like markings); differs further from S. guggenheim by having the dorsal midline denticles on trunk morphologically similar to other trunk denticles and barely organized in a row (vs. dorsal midline row of enlarged denticles morphologically distinct from other trunk denticles), the denticles close to origin of pectoral fin morphologically homogeneous, similar to other pectoral denticles (vs. presence of a pair, or more, enlarged and morphologically distinct denticles from other pectoral denticles, in S. guggenheim) .Cross section: angular.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Argentine angelshark is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

Ovoviviparous, embryos feed solely on yolk . Both ovaries are functional .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range 100 - 400 m . Subtropical; 19°S - 53°S, 68°W - 38°W Southwest Atlantic: Brazil to southern Uruguay.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

⚠️ Venom Profile

References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 16 records indexed .

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