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🌊 Marine Endangered 🍽️ Edible 🌡️ Subtropical

Angular angel shark

Squatina guggenheim Marini, 1936
Max Length
129 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
4.4
Depth
4–360 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Very low
Vulnerability
68.00/100
Typical Length
89 cm
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Bony fishes were the main food followed by crustaceans and molluscs . Ovoviviparous . Adult males are characterized by the presence of a patch of small spines near the tip of the pectoral fins .

Scientific Name
Squatina guggenheim
Authority
Marini, 1936
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
IUCN Status
EN
Max Length
129 cm
Depth Range
4–360 m
Trophic Level
4.4
Resilience
Very low
Vulnerability
68.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

This species is distinguished by the following characters: with a single (or multiple in juveniles) row of enlarged, conical and morphologically distinct dermal denticles over dorsal longitudinal midline, from midlength of the pectoral fin base to origin of first dorsal fin (in some specimens, to origin of caudal fin); dorsal midline denticles are with enlarged and rounded basal plate, 3-4 times diameter of other dorsal denticles, crown with several median ridges (10-12), and crown apex acute and smooth, without ridges (vs. dorsal midline denticles on trunk morphologically similar to other trunk denticles and barely organized in a row in S. occulta and S. argentina); differs from S. occulta by having larger and fewer white blotches on dorsal surface, without surrounding blackish rings (i.e. absence of ocelli-like markings) and smaller in size at maturity, from 73.0-80.0 cm TL (vs. greater than 100.0 cm TL in S. occulta); differs from S. argentina by its ligther background colour, light to dark brown (vs. dark brown to reddish brown), with larger and fewer white blotches over dorsal surface, with a pair of enlarged, conical and morphologically distinct dermal denticles between spiracles (vs. interspiracular surface covered by smaller dorsal denticles, no enlarged denticles), the lower number of tooth rows with 18-22 vertical rows in both upper and lower jaws, tooth formula 9-9 to 11-11/9-9 to 11-11 (vs. 12-12/12-12 in i>S. argentina), and with a straight external pectoral fin margin (vs. with convex anterior half of external margin). Colouration: dorsal color pattern of light to dark brown background, with several white, creamy-white or yellowish large and rounded blotches variable in size (between one-half to 1.5 times eye-length) on entire dorsal surface .Cross section: angular.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Angular angel shark is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Angular angel shark is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Ovoviviparous
Size at Maturity
74.2cm TL

Ovoviviparous, embryos feed solely on yolk . Only the left ovary is functional .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 4 - 360 m , usually 4 - 266 m . Subtropical; 20°S - 45°S, 68°W - 40°W Southwest Atlantic: southern Brazil and Argentina.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🌿 Brackish ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
4.4±0.8

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00661 × L3.07 (TL)
Max TL
129cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Endangered
Assessment Date
2018

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Very low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
68.00/100
High vulnerability
Trophic Level
4.4
Apex / Top predator
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Marini, 1936

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Angular angel shark is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 20.1 g
Omega-3 (total) 441 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Angular angel shark has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 13 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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