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Species Directory

Sawback Angelshark

Overview Conservation & Management Resources
The sawback angelshark is a cartilaginous fish, similar to a ray or skate. The species once occurred in waters throughout the central and western Mediterranean Sea and along the eastern Atlantic, from Morocco to Angola. Learn more about the sawback angelshark.

Sawback Angelshark

Squatina aculeata

640x427-Angelshark_Sawback.jpg

Protected Status

ESA Endangered - Foreign
Throughout Its Range

Quick Facts

Weight
Unknown
Length
Up to 6 feet (females) and 5 feet (males)
Lifespan
Unknown
Threats
Commercial and artisanal fishing
Region
Foreign

About the Species

The sawback angelshark is a cartilaginous fish similar to a ray or skate. The species once occurred in waters throughout the central and western Mediterranean Sea and along the eastern Atlantic, from Morocco to Angola. It no longer occurs in many areas of the Mediterranean, including the Adriatic Sea and much of the northwestern portion of the Mediterranean Sea, and is rare throughout the rest of its range. The main threat to the sawback angelshark is commercial fishing, particularly by demersal fisheries (for example, trawl fisheries) that primarily operate in depths where the sawback angelshark occur. In 2016, NOAA Fisheries listed the species as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. 

Appearance

Angelsharks are recognized by their batoid shape (similar to a ray or skate). The sawback angelshark can be distinguished from other angelsharks by its row of dorsal spines (sword-like bony structures) down the middle of its body, with spines also located on the snout and above the eyes.

Behavior and Diet

Sawback angelsharks are ambush predators, meaning they lie in wait for prey to pass closely overhead before attacking. They eat small sharks and bony fishes along with benthic invertebrates, including cephalopods and crustaceans.

Where They Live

Sawback angelsharks are found in continental shelf and upper slope sediment habitats in the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic, but has never been recorded in Atlantic waters north of the Strait of Gibraltar. These sharks are nocturnal bottom dwellers, occurring in depths of 98 to 1640 feet, and prefer to spend most of their time buried in the sand or mud during the day.

Sawback angleshark range map World map providing approximate representation of the sawback angelshark's range.

Lifespan & Reproduction

Little is known about the growth and reproduction of sawback angelsharks. The species displays sexual dimorphism, with females reaching larger sizes than males of the species. Female sawback angelsharks give birth to live young, with a gestation period that likely lasts around a year. Litter sizes range from 8 to 12 “pups.”

Threats

Commercial and Artisanal Fishing

The primary threat to the sawback angelshark is overutilization in commercial and artisanal fisheries, particularly demersal fisheries (e.g., trawl fisheries). Historically, angelsharks were so common that fishermen developed a special net designed specifically for catching them. However, over the last 50 years, significant population declines in angelsharks have been observed, with these declines coinciding with the start of trawling activities in the northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean. Because angelsharks are sedentary, bottom-dwelling species, they are highly susceptible to being caught in demersal and trawl fisheries. Consequently, as these fisheries expanded with the use of steam-powered trawlers in the 1890s, angelsharks began to suffer significant declines in abundance throughout their historical range. Evidence of illegal fishing operations have also contributed to declines in sawback angelshark populations. The species is now considered to be extirpated from the Adriatic Sea, Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas, off the Balearic Islands and in the Catalan Sea, and is considered rare throughout the rest of its range in the northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean. Because the demersal fisheries that historically contributed to the decline in S. aculeata are still active throughout the species’ range, and primarily operate in depths where these angelsharks occur, the species remains at risk of overutilization.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Chondrichthyes
Order Squaliformes
Family Squatinidae
Genus Squatina
Species aculeata

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 10/30/2023


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Related Species

640x427-argentine-angelshark.png

Argentine Angelshark

640x427-common-angelshark.png

Common Angelshark

640x427-Angelshark-Smoothback.jpg

Smoothback Angelshark

Spiny angelshark illustration. Credit: Jack Hornady.

Spiny Angelshark

Management Overview

The sawback angelshark is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.


Regulatory History

In 2013, NOAA Fisheries received a petition to list the sawback angelshark as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. In our 90-day finding, we concluded that the petitioned action may be warranted for the species. After completing a Status Review, we proposed to list the species as endangered and requested comments from the public. In 2016, NOAA Fisheries listed the sawback angelshark as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Key Actions and Documents

Actions & Documents

Initiation of 5-Year Review for the Sawback Angelshark

NOAA Fisheries announces its intent to conduct a 5-year review of the endangered sawback angelshark (Squatina aculeata). NOAA Fisheries is required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to conduct 5-year reviews to ensure that listing classifications of…
  • Notice of Initiation of 5-year review; request for information (89 FR 92097, 11…
Information Gathering,
Foreign
Published
November 21, 2024

Listing Three Angelshark Species Under the Endangered Species Act

We, NOAA Fisheries, issue a final rule to list three foreign marine angelshark species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We considered comments submitted on the proposed listing rule and have determined that the sawback angelshark (Squatina…
  • Final Rule (81 FR 50394, August 1, 2016)
  • Proposed Rule (80 FR 40969, July 14, 2015)
  • 90-day Finding (78 FR 69376, November 19, 2013)
  • Status Review Report of 3 Species of Angelsharks: Squatina aculeata, S. oculata…
  • Petition (2013)
Final Rule,
Foreign
Effective
August 31, 2016

More Information

  • Listing Foreign Species Under the ESA

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 10/30/2023

Documents

Document

Status Review Report of 3 Species of Angelsharks: Squatina aculeata, S. oculata, and S. squatina

This report summarizes the best available data and information on three species of angelsharks …

More Documents

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 10/30/2023

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