About the Species
The Argentine angelshark is a cartilaginous fish, similar to a ray or skate. It has a very restricted range in the Southwest Atlantic, from southern Brazil to at least the northern part of Argentina, one of the smallest ranges of any elasmobranch species. It is also considered to be the least common species of angelshark found in the southwestern Atlantic, particularly in Argentina. The main threat to the Argentine angelshark is bycatch in commercial fisheries operating in its core habitat for other commercially important fish. In 2017, NOAA Fisheries listed the species as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
Appearance
The Argentine angelshark is a flat shark. Its body is a dark to purplish brown color with small, round white spots symmetrically distributed across the entire dorsal surface. The dorsal surface is also densely covered with dermal denticles, which are small teeth-like scales. The pectoral fins are large and twice as wide as they are long, making them very broad. The anterior margins of the pectoral fins are strongly curved, creating a visible ‘‘shoulder’’ area at the base of the head.
Behavior and Diet
The Argentine angelshark is thought to be a sit-and-wait predator, lying motionless on the bottom until prey pass closely overhead. The prey is then grasped by an upward bite. There is limited information regarding the Argentine angelshark diet, but one study showed that fish made up the large majority of the species’ diet, followed by crustaceans and mollusks.
Where They Live
The Argentine angelshark can be found in the Southwest Atlantic from southern Brazil (from Rio de Janeiro southward) to at least the northern part of Argentina (i.e., Buenos Aires) and likely further south to the San Matías Gulf and Bahía Engaño. This species lives on muddy or sandy bottom substrates on the continental shelf and slope at depths between 38 and 204 feet with a principal depth range of 49 to 160 feet.
World map providing approximate representation of the Argentine angleshark's range.
Lifespan & Reproduction
Little is known about the growth and reproduction of Argentine angelsharks as pregnant females and newborns are rarely found. Gestation is lecithotrophic meaning developing embryos depend on yolk for nutrition, and litter sizes range from 7 to 11 pups with 9 or 10 being most common. The Argentine angelshark’s reproductive cycle is thought to be biannual.
Threats
Commercial fishing
The primary threat to Argentine angelsharks is overutilization by commercial fisheries, particularly the trawl and bottom gillnet fisheries in Brazil, where the species is likely most concentrated. The species is reported as a significant bycatch species in the commercial monkfish fishery, which likely contributed to a significant decline in the population in the early 2000s.
Scientific Classification
| Animalia |
Chordata |
Chondrichthyes |
Squatiniformes |
Squatinidae |
Squatina |
argentina |
Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 10/30/2023
