Spiny angel shark

Description

It is a small shark that inhabits the sandy ocean floor.The body is depressed and roughly rhomboidal,with a mottled color that is very reminiscent of the sandy environments in which it is camouflaged.The eyes are in antero-lateral position at the top of the head.On the sides of the mouth there are sensory barbels.In the male we observe the presence of typical quills on the upper surface of the pectoral fins (from which one of the English names " spiny angel shark ",a spiny angel shark ),which are instead absent in femalesand in juvenile specimens.These spines are used to keep the position stable during mating. The total length is normally between 70 and 90 cm,although specimens of up to 130 cm have been caught