At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The angelshark is a flattened, ray-like shark that buries itself in sand to ambush prey. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Once widespread, it has vanished from much of its range.
Range & habitat
Coastal waters of the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, much reduced.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Bycatch in trawls and nets
- Habitat disturbance
- Slow reproduction
Why it matters
A flattened, bottom-dwelling shark wiped out across much of its range by trawling, the angelshark is a priority for coastal and seabed conservation.
Sources
Sources for Angelshark
- IUCN Red List — look up Angelshark (authoritative status)
- FishBase
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the angelshark a shark or a ray?
It is a true shark, but its flattened body and broad fins make it look ray-like; it lies buried in sand and ambushes prey that swims past.
Why is the angelshark Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite bycatch in trawls and nets, habitat disturbance, and slow reproduction, which together erased it from much of its range. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: