Editing Angelshark (section)

==Appearance and biology==
The angel shark has unique features that differentiates them from other sharks. They are considered as smaller sized sharks because they grow up to only {{Convert|7|ft|m}} and can weigh around {{Convert|77|lb|kg}}, as opposed to the whale shark that can measure up to {{Convert|32|ft|m}} and weigh {{Convert|20000|lb|kg}}.

While the anterior part of the angel shark's body is broad and flattened, the posterior part retains a muscular appearance more typical of other sharks. The eyes and [[Spiracle (vertebrates)|spiracle]]s are dorsal and the five [[gill]] slits are on its back. Both the pectoral and [[pelvic fin]]s are large and held horizontally. There are two [[dorsal fin]]s, no [[anal fin]] and unusually for sharks, the lower lobe of the [[caudal fin]] is longer than the upper lobe. Most types grow to a length of 1.5&nbsp;m (5&nbsp;ft), with the [[Japanese angel shark]], known to reach 2&nbsp;m.<ref name=FB>{{FishBase_family | family = Squatinidae | year = 2016 | month = January }}</ref> Some angel sharks have deformities that have been described in elasmobranchs. These can include skeletal deformities, as lateral spinal curvature (scoliosis), humpback curvature (khyphosis), axial spinal curvature (lordosis), missing fins, additional fins, deformed snout, and more. These abnormalities have only been found in a few sharks, but the causes of these deformities have been found to be from dietary nutritional imbalance, genetic factors, parasites, traumatic injuries, or stress in the specimen. In 2015, two sharks were captured and examined, and both showed a lateral spinal curvature (scoliosis) and also a humpback curvature. Both the animals had the curvature in the middle of their pectoral fins, but the deformity did not affect their swimming capacity.

Spinal scoliosis has been reported to be diverse in sharks, but mostly in pelagic sharks that depend on their swimming abilities to catch their prey. For the angel shark, specifically ''S.&nbsp;squatina'', these curvatures do not seem to significantly affect its hunting capacity, which involves burying itself to ambush their prey. Right now, research is assuming most physical injuries are caused by human interactions because of the constant interference in coastal areas, where most of the sharks reside. There have been few attacks reported, and what few have occurred were due to accidental stepping on of buried newborn sharks.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.trjfas.org/uploads/pdf_1325.pdf|journal=Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences|title=First Case of Morphological Abnormality in Common Angel Sharks : Squatina squatina (Chondrichthyes: Squatinidae), from the Canary Islands|author1=Alejandro Escánez Pérez|author2=Sergio Moreno Borges|author3=Felipe Ravina Olivares|author4=Sandra J. Raredon|year=2019|volume=19|issue=3|pages=267–270|doi=10.4194/1303-2712-v19_3_10|access-date=16 March 2022}}</ref> Landings of Pacific angel shark increased through the mid-1980s and reached over 1,125 tonnes in 1986, becoming the shark species with the highest total reported landings off the US West coast that year.<ref>King, J., & Tribuzio, C. A. (2017). Northeast Pacific Shark Biology, Research, and	Conservation, Part B.</ref>

Angel sharks possess extensible jaws that can rapidly snap upwards to capture prey and have long, needle-like teeth. They bury themselves in loose sediment lying in wait for prey, which includes [[fish]], [[crustacean]]s and various types of [[mollusk]]s.<ref name=EoF>{{cite book | editor = Paxton, J.R. | editor2 = Eschmeyer, W.N. | author = Stevens, J. | author2 = Last, P.R. | name-list-style=amp| year = 1998 | title = Encyclopedia of Fishes | publisher = Academic Press | location = San Diego | pages = 64–65 | isbn = 978-0-12-547665-2 }}</ref> They are [[Ovoviviparity|ovoviviparous]], producing litters of up to 13 pups. Pacific angel shark pups are born from March to June in deep water; generally 180 to 300 feet (55 and 90 metres); possibly to protect the pups from predators.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Martin |first1=R. Aidan |title=Sandy Plains: No Place To Hide |url=http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/ecology/sandy.htm|website=Elasmo-research.org }}</ref>

Angel sharks usually reside in depths of {{Convert|1–200|m|ft}} and can be seen on muddy or soft benthic substrata where they can easily blend in as they lie in wait. Members of the family Squatinidae have a unique camouflage method, which relates to how they obtain their food, involving lying still on the sea floor, making rapid lunges at passing prey, and using negative pressure to capture prey by sucking it into their mouths.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lyons |first1=Kady |last2=Lowe |first2=Christopher G. |title=Organochlorine contaminants and maternal offloading in the lecithotrophic Pacific angel shark (''Squatina californica'') collected from southern California |journal=Marine Pollution Bulletin |date=August 2015 |volume=97 |issue=1–2 |pages=518–522 |doi=10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.05.019 |pmid=25986655 |bibcode=2015MarPB..97..518L }}</ref>