#angelshark

Favorite shark: Oh that's easy... carpet and angelsharks!

Pacific Angelshark (Squatina californica), family Squatinidae, order Squatiniformes, off the coast of CA, USA

OCEAN WARMING DISRUPTS ANGELSHARK MATING IN THE CANARY ISLANDS

Angelsharks (Squatina squatina), listed as Critically Endangered are showing adverse behaviour related to climate change. Females are avoiding traditional mating grounds during periods of unusually high ocean temperatures, prioritising cooler waters instead. This female absence, documented in La Graciosa Marine Reserve during the 2022 breeding season, contrasts with the continued presence of males, suggesting an increasing mismatch in the species’ reproductive patterns.

The study, led by Lancaster University and the Angel Shark Project: Canary Islands, found that temperatures above 22.5 °C throughout much of autumn and winter may exceed the thermal tolerance of females. Using acoustic telemetry, researchers tracked more than 100 individuals between 2018 and 2023, revealing a clear link between female presence and sea temperature.

These findings highlight the angelshark’s vulnerability to extreme events linked to climate change, particularly in regions like the Canaries, which already represent the species’ thermal distribution limit. The authors stress the urgent need to protect key habitats and maintain long-term monitoring to mitigate the impacts of ocean warming on threatened marine species.

Reference: Mead et al. 2025. Rapid Ocean Warming Drives Sexually Divergent Habitat Use in a Threatened Predatory Marine Ectotherm.” Global Change Biology

Japanese Angelshark Squatina formosa

Found in the northwestern Pacific Ocean off China, Japan, and Korea. It is a bottom-dwelling shark found in sandy habitats down to 300 m (980 ft) deep, a nocturnal ambush predator that spends most of the day lying still on the sea floor. It is endangered by commercial trawl fisheries.