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Sharks & rays

Japanese Angelshark

Squatina japonica

Also known as: Carmine Shark, Change Angel Shark, Change Canopy Shark, Japanese Angelfish, Japanese Monkfish

CRCritically EndangeredIUCN Red List, 2021
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Adult
@AntarcticFish · Oshima Island, Japan · June 20241 / 2
01

Overview

Found in the day partially buried or close to the bottom over sandy ground.
They feed nocturnally on benthic cephalopods, crustaceans and fish.
Widespread North West Pacific

Critically endangered!
They use their traplike jaws to snap up prey at high speed.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
brown spotswhite spots
Head & Mouth
barbels
Behaviour
bottom dwellingburies in sandnocturnal

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Northwest Pacific
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found in the day partially buried or close to the bottom over sandy ground.

RANGE
04

Adult photos 2

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

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    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classElasmobranchii
    4. orderSquatiniformes
    5. familySquatinidae
    6. genusSquatina
    7. speciesSquatina japonica Bleeker, 1858

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase