Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Squatiniformes (Angel sharks) >
Squatinidae (Angel sharks)
Etymology: Squatina: Latin for skate, which angel sharks superficially resemble, presumably tautonymous with Squalus squatina Linnaeus 1758 (no species mentioned) (See ETYFish); david: In honor of the first author’s son David (pronounced dahveed), who passed away 7 March 2011 [a noun in apposition, without the patronymic “i”] (See ETYFish).
Eponymy: David [pronounced ‘dahveed’] Acero (d: 2011) was the son of the first author, Arturo Acero. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 51 - 272 m (Ref. 117896). Tropical
Western Atlantic: northern South America (Venezuela and Surinam) to Panama.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 78.7 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 110242); 74.8 cm TL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis: Mid-dorsal line lacking thorns or enlarged, sharp, pointed dermal denticles; eye-spiracle distance larger than 1.5 times eye diameter in specimens larger than 60 cm TL; each nasal flap with 2 rod-like barbels, outer barbel divided; coloration grayish to brownish yellow, male dark-spotted, females with abundant whitish spots (Ref. 110242).
Currently known from depths between 100-151m (Ref. 110242).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Acero, A.P., J.J. Tavera, R. Anguila and L. Hernández, 2016. A new southern Caribbean species of angel shark (Chondrichthyes, Squaliformes, Squatinidae), including phylogeny, and tempo of diversification of american species. Copeia 104(2):577-585. (Ref. 110242)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00389 (0.00180 - 0.00842), b=3.12 (2.94 - 3.30), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.9 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary low fecundity).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (51 of 100).