Hidden Angelshark

About the Hidden Angelshark

The hidden angelshark is a shark found off the Atlantic coast of South America, from Brazil to Argentina. Like all angelsharks, it has a flattened body and broad pectoral fins that make it look like a ray. It grows up to 120 cm in length and is usually found at 10 to 350 m.

Hidden angelsharks are ovoviviparous. The eggs remain inside the mother until they’re ready to hatch. Litter sizes range from 6 to 8 pups. The become sexually mature at 10 years of age. Females can have pups every 4 to 5 years. Because of all these factors, this species has a very low reproductive rate and makes it difficult to recover from overfishing.

According to the IUCN, their numbers have decreased by 85% in the past 30 years. They’re commonly caught by trawls and bottom gill nets faster than they can reproduce. Because of this, hidden angelsharks are an endangered species.

Do you have images or videos of Hidden Angelsharks?
Submit them to [email protected].