Editing Angelshark (section)

{{Short description|Genus of sharks}}
{{About|the genus|the species|Squatina squatina}}
{{Redirect|Angel Sharks|the French movie|Marie from the Bay of Angels}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Angel shark
| fossil_range = {{fossilrange|Aptian|Recent}}
| image = Squatina australis.jpg
| image_caption = [[Australian angelshark]] (''Squatina australis'')
| image2 = Squatina dumeril nefsc2.jpg
| image2_caption = [[Sand devil]] (''Squatina dumeril'')
| display_parents = 5
| grandparent_authority = 
| parent_authority = 
| taxon = Squatina
| authority = [[André Marie Constant Duméril|A. M. C. Duméril]], 1806
| type_species = ''[[Squatina squatina|Squalus squatina]]''
| type_species_authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]]
| synonyms = *''Squalraia'' De la Pylaie, 1835
}}
[[File:Angelsharks in Fuerteventura- how many are in Wales- Maelgwn Fuerteventura- faint sydd yng Nghymru-.webm|thumb|Angelsharks, off the coast of [[Fuerteventura]]]]
'''Angel sharks''' are sharks belonging to the genus '''''Squatina'''''. They are the only living members of the family Squatinidae and order [[Squatiniformes]]. They commonly inhabit sandy seabeds close to {{Convert|150|m|ft|abbr=on}} in depth. 

''Squatina'' and other Squatiniformes differ from other sharks in having flattened bodies and broad [[pectoral fin]]s that give them a strong resemblance to [[batoidea|rays]]. They occur worldwide in temperate and tropical seas. Most [[species]] inhabit shallow temperate or tropical seas, but a few species inhabit deeper water, down to {{convert|1300|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name=EoF/> Angel sharks are sometimes called monkfish, although this name is also applied to members of the genus ''[[Lophius]]''.

While some species occur over a wide geographic range, the majority are restricted to a smaller area. Restriction in geographic range might be as a result of the behaviour of ''Squatina'' species, which are [[ambush predator]]s with a corresponding stationary bottom-dwelling habit. Thus, trans-ocean migration is extremely unlikely, even though large-scale coastal migratory patterns have been reported in species such as ''[[Squatina squatina]]''.<ref name="Stelbrink et al 2010">{{cite journal |last1=Stelbrink |first1=Björn |last2=von Rintelen |first2=Thomas |last3=Cliff |first3=Geremy |last4=Kriwet |first4=Jürgen |title=Molecular systematics and global phylogeography of angel sharks (genus ''Squatina'') |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |date=February 2010 |volume=54 |issue=2 |pages=395–404 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2009.07.029 |pmid=19647086 }}</ref>

Many species are now classified as critically endangered by the [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]]. Once common over large areas of the Northeast Atlantic from Norway, Sweden, Morocco and the Canary Islands, to the Mediterranean and Black Seas, fishing pressure has resulted in significant population decline.