pacific species angel shark family found eastern pacific_ocean alaska ecuador chile southeastern pacific fact separate species pacific inhabits shallow coastal waters sandy flats usually near rocky reefs forests underwater features species resembles angel sharks appearance flattened body greatly enlarged pectoral pelvic fins characteristic features shark include pair cone shaped snout angular pectoral fins brown gray dorsal coloration small dark markings maximum length ambush predator pacific sea floor waits approaching prey primarily bony fishes squid prey targeted visually quick upward thrust head jaws individual sharks actively choose ideal ambush sites stay days moving new species active night day stays buried sediment seldom moves reproduction viviparous embryos hatching inside mother sustained yolk sac birth females birth average young spring pacific dangerous humans provoked case bite cause painful injury valued meat captured commercial recreational range targeted fishery species began california ended new regulations led near collapse species mainly mexican waters assessed species population largely protected recovering impact mexican fisheries unknown taxonomy phylogeny scientifically described curator gave specific epithet originally described specimen caught san_francisco locally species referred angel shark california angel shark chilean southeastern pacific species later tentatively recognized separate species taxonomic status angel sharks southeastern pacific species region remains unresolved angel sharks inhabiting represent different species mature smaller size rest range phylogenetic study based mitochondrial dna published colleagues reported sister species sand devil western north_atlantic species estimated diverged approximately close panama began form authors found pacific differed genetically represented species level distinction distribution habitat pacific found cold warm temperate waters southeastern corner alaska including entire baja peninsula common central southern california occur ecuador southern tip chile taxonomic uncertainty dwelling shark prefers habitats soft flat bottoms close shore bays found near rocky reefs submarine forests occasion seen swimming sea floor california common depth reported deep number genetically identified northern range exist coast point conception northward alaska separate mainland northern southern pacific coast baja california distinct diverged time pacific undertake long migratory movements outside preferred home areas deep waters serve effective geographical barriers population mixing measure genetic diversity higher pacific shark species examined description flattened body wing like pectoral fins pacific resembles ray unlike rays pairs gill slits located sides head underneath expanded anterior pectoral fins separate fused head eyes located head skin triangular sides head mouth wide placed snout pair cone shaped like tips located tooth rows upper jaw tooth rows lower jaw gaps middle jaws tooth broad base single narrow smooth edged pectoral pelvic fins broad angular pointed tips dorsal fins located far body anal fin lower lobe caudal fin larger upper row small runs middle tail present snout eyes shark ages decrease size disappear dorsal coloration gray brown reddish brown scattered dark markings large surrounded ring tiny spots adults pairs juveniles underside white extending margins pectoral pelvic fins species measures long weighs biology ecology day pacific seen open instead resting sea floor buried thin layer sediment outlines night individuals remain waiting prey encountered actively swimming large sharks including great white shark shark northern elephant seal known consume pacific known parasites species include skin spiral valve attached shark inside inside developing embryos feeding ambush predator pacific feeds mainly bony fishes including bass winter early spring spawning squid abundant primary source food southern gulf california important prey species descending order shrimp species feeds mainly adults juveniles similar individual sharks choose sites giving best ambush success prefer junctions sandy rocky near reefs fishes shelter usually parallel nearby vertical structures tend face facilitate burying falling sediment bring fish swimming downstream reef ease targeting prey sunlight settled successful site remain days burying near spot strike local prey eventually learn avoid stationary predator shark periodically shifts night new site kilometers away study found hours sharks km2 later longer term study found sharks sporadic position changes covered months island single individuals swam night primarily visual hunter experiments nature strike fish shaped targets electrical chemical cues night guided disturbed moving prey species visual system light emitted organisms showing importance night hunting pacific likely strike prey approaching usually waits prey approaches attack accurate distance strike behavior shark presses forward pectoral fins head upwards angle mouth forms tube opened creating force jaws forward secure prey sharp teeth strike eyes roll backward head protection strike completed tenth second life history viviparous young yolk sac reproduction occurs annual cycle females single functional left filled yolk speculated eggs young embryos long translucent skin protruding eyes exposed gill spots pigment developed embryo long row teeth appeared embryo long time embryo long mouth migrated terminal position color pattern fully developed external yolk sac begins shrink yolk transferred internal yolk sac holds transferred internal yolk sac fully birth released prematurely feed process complete takes place march june gestation period months females mate shortly afterward average litter size range rarely female size number offspring young born water deep probably protect predators pacific embryos grow month young slowing month birth born length newborn pups captivity grow rate year adults wild grow year sexes mature long corresponding age years gulf california sharks species mature long males long females survive maturity maximum lifespan estimated years unlike sharks growth rings species deposited proportion shark size yearly making age determination difficult human interactions usually underwater pacific quick bite touched captured provoked inflict severe commercial fisheries species exist baja california lesser extent california meat considered excellent sold fresh frozen species captured limited numbers recreational hook line spears hand particularly southern california taken shrimp operating processed capacity species withstand focused fishing effort limited low rates reproduction movement commercial fishery california operating expanded include pacific sharks valuable promotion substitute available common shark development new processing techniques shark skin discarded 1980s rising demand led introduction medium sized designed specifically species fishery landings increased dressed post processing weight fishery peaked million taken annually making species number shark california level exploitation despite minimum size limit imposed catches fell use waters banned voter initiative proposition restricted area included habitat reduced fishing pressure species result landings dropped dressed central angel shark fishery closed completely remained low decline fishery led industry shifting mexico fishing vessels targeting species meet angel shark demand california assessed species numbers california appear increasing demographic modeling suggests stock healthy impact intense mexican fishery global population continuing interest california resumption commercial fishery conservation concerns far taken precedence
Pacific angelshark