Japanese angelshark

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The Japanese angelshark (Squatina japonica) is a critically endangered shark found in the northwestern Pacific, off China, Japan, and Korea. It lives on sandy sea floors from shallow waters down to about 300 meters deep and camouflages itself to ambush prey. It has a flat body with wing-like pectoral fins and a row of large thorns along its back, brown with square dark spots on top and white underneath. It can grow to about 1.5 to 2.5 meters long.

This species lies on the sea floor during the day and becomes more active at night. Its diet includes small fish, squid, and crustaceans. It gives birth to live young (viviparous), with litters of 2 to 10 pups; newborns are about 22 cm long. Females mature at around 80 cm.

Threats come mainly from fishing: it is caught in bottom trawls and nets for meat and shagreen leather. Fishing pressure and pollution have greatly reduced its numbers, with declines of 50% or more in parts of its range. Some areas have trawling bans, which may help, but enforcement varies.