#diversesharks

Species Profile No. 41: The African Angelshark (Squatina africana) This isn’t a strictly scientific opinion, but I think that African angelsharks are exceptionally beautiful with their adorable spots! We here at TD may be biased towards sharks with spots in general. But besides that, these sharks are found along the continental shelf, and live in areas that are sandy/muddy at the bottom. They are classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. Not a lot seems to be known about their reproduction, but they’re very similar to the Pacific angelshark, which has a generation length of a whopping 23 years! Since angelsharks generally reproduce slowly, it’s not a stretch to assume that the African angelshark is sensitive to overfishing. African angelsharks are caught by several types of fisheries. They seem to mostly be caught as bycatch by prawn trawling fisheries and gillnets. In South Africa, trawling operations often catch juvenile sharks, meaning that the deep waters there could be a nursery area for the species, as could similar deepwater areas where trawling occurs. As is often the case, more information about the rates at which these sharks are caught is needed. They don’t fall under much protection other than living in several Marine Protected Areas. The IUCN has suggested that using Turtle Exclusion Devices, devices used to keep turtles out of trawlers, would benefit this species by reducing the rate of bycatch. To help support angel sharks, make sure to support @angelsharkproject, the Angel Shark Conservation Network, Shark Advocates International, and the Shark Conservation Fund. ••• Big thanks to our Patron, Clay Herber! ••••••••••••••••••••••••• #angelsharkprofiles #shark #sharks #angelshark #africanangelshark #africanwildlife #africa #squatina #diversesharks #sharkeducation #savesharks #savethesharks #helpsavesharks #bycatch #overfishing #stopoverfishing #replacefearwithfacts #stopsharkfinning https://www.instagram.com/p/B1d0U7SBJ6u/?igshid=18dxuwdty72mn

Species Profile No. 43: David’s Angelshark (Squatina david) David’s Angelshark is a fairly mysterious shark species! This shark was first scientifically described in 2016, making it a somewhat recent discovery. Females have white spots, while males are darker. They live in soft substrates along the continental slope, making them a coastal species, like many other angel sharks. David’s angelshark is globally listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. Since this is a recently described species, their population size is unknown, but they have been caught by longlines, gillnets, and trawls in Venezuela - industries that have grown in that area. For this reason, the IUCN lists the population as declining. The reproduction of this species is unknown, but it is believed to have slow reproduction, similar to other angelsharks. This makes this species especially vulnerable to overfishing. To help support angel sharks, make sure to support @angelsharkproject, the Angel Shark Conservation Network, ElasmoCan, Shark Advocates International, and the Shark Conservation Fund. ••• Big thanks to our Patron, Clay Herber! ••••••••••••••••••••••••• #angelsharkprofiles #shark #sharks #angelshark #davidsangelshark #squatina #diversesharks #sharkeducation #savesharks #savethesharks #helpsavesharks #bycatch #overfishing #stopoverfishing #replacefearwithfacts #stopsharkfinning https://www.instagram.com/p/B3meWBZBRy5/?igshid=1khx1zvbo59do

Species Profile No. 30: The Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) The great hammerhead is the largest hammerhead species, usually reaching lengths of 11 feet, with the largest individual measuring a whopping 20 feet long! This species is also one of the most well-known. They eat a wide range of prey, from bony fishes to smaller sharks. Stingrays are one of their favorite foods! Great hammerheads are listed as Endangered. Females breed once every two years, giving birth to 20-40 pups after an 11 month long gestation. While they have large litters, most of the pups are likely eaten by predators, which include larger sharks. Great hammerheads are taken as targets and bycatch, and may be at greater risk than other species because they stick to tropical waters where there are more fisheries. Their fins are very large and high quality, which drives the demand to capture these sharks. They are protected by some finning bans, quotas, and pelagic shark protection plans, but it is unclear how helpful these measures have been to recovering their populations. Their population is still decreasing. As is often the case, the protections that exist for great hammerheads need better enforcement, and more research needs to be done on these incredible sharks. To help endangered sharks like the great hammerhead, please support Shark Advocates International and the IUCN Shark Specialist Group. ••••••••••••••••••••••••• #hammerheadprofiles #shark #sharks #hammerhead #hammerheadshark #greathammerhead #diversesharks #sharkeducation #savesharks #savethesharks #helpsavesharks #bycatch #overfishing #stopoverfishing #replacefearwithfacts #stopsharkfinning https://www.instagram.com/p/BxyhyNoBPdH/?igshid=yv63wid7tgsc

Species Profile No. 39: The Chilean Angelshark (Squatina armata) Today we’re featuring another incredibly mysterious shark, the Chilean Angelshark. Listed as Data Deficient, the IUCN page of this species states that “nothing is known of its biology.” These sharks don’t seem to be caught very often, but the only fisheries information about them comes from Peru, and nothing is known of their value to fisheries in any other country. While it’s a bit disappointing to make a post with so little information, we want to give you all a chance to learn a little bit about every angel shark species! Learning about how many shark species are poorly understood is also important, as it highlights the pressing need for more shark research. Remember that the best way to support species like the Chilean Angelshark is to donate directly to research groups/funding bodies, such as the Shark Conservation Fund. To help support angel sharks, make sure to support @angelsharkproject, the Angel Shark Conservation Network, Shark Advocates International, and the Shark Conservation Fund. ••• Big thanks to our Patron, Clay Herber! ••••••••••••••••••••••••• #angelsharkprofiles #shark #sharks #angelshark #disparateangelshark #mexicanangelshark #squatina #diversesharks #sharkeducation #savesharks #savethesharks #helpsavesharks #bycatch #overfishing #stopoverfishing #replacefearwithfacts #stopsharkfinning https://www.instagram.com/p/B1WeTk2BW48/?igshid=gvp78lxzq4q7

Species Profile No. 42: The Pacific Angelshark (Squatina californica) Pacific angelsharks are found in a variety of habitats along the Pacific coast of North America. They tend to prefer soft-bottom habitats, where they can bury themselves in sediment to ambush their prey. They can be found in shallow bays, coral reefs, kelp forests, and even estuaries! Unlike many sharks, they tend to stay in a certain small, set area, rather than traveling wide distances. Pacific angelsharks are globally listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. This species takes a long time to mature and reproduce, usually becoming sexually mature at 8-13 years. Females produce litters with an average of 6 pups once per year. Their population is currently declining. In 1976, California’s halibut fishery began targeting Pacific Angelsharks, fishing them for their meat. This led to an over-exploitation of the species, leading to catch limits in 1986, which was ineffective at recovering the population. A gillnet ban was eventually introduced in 1994, which stopped the California fishery. They are still caught as bycatch by shrimp trawlers in California, and are fished for in Mexico to meet the demand that is no longer being met by the California fishery. The Mexican fisheries are very poorly understood, and more research/management is needed. To help support angel sharks, make sure to support @angelsharkproject, the Angel Shark Conservation Network, Shark Advocates International, and the Shark Conservation Fund. ••• Big thanks to our Patron, Clay Herber! ••••••••••••••••••••••••• #angelsharkprofiles #shark #sharks #angelshark #pacificangelshark #squatina #diversesharks #sharkeducation #savesharks #savethesharks #helpsavesharks #bycatch #overfishing #stopoverfishing #replacefearwithfacts #stopsharkfinning https://www.instagram.com/p/B1otFDEhP-t/?igshid=1vphxt1qq6ns6

Species Profile No. 32: The Sand Devil (Squatina dumeril) The sand devil is a species of angel shark - pretty contradictory name, I know! This species is also known as the Atlantic Angelshark. They live on the east coast of North America. They’re a bottom-dwelling species, living close to the shore during the spring and summer, but live in much deeper waters during the fall and winter. They catch their prey by settling into sand or mud and ambushing their food! The sand devil is globally listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Females give birth once every two years upon reaching maturity, with a gestation period of 12 months and litters that contain 4-25 pups. While a whole year is a long time to be pregnant, these sharks have a generation length of 8.25 years - which is short for a shark! We’ll be able to see how this compares to some of the more threatened angel sharks as we cover more species later on. Sand devils are sometimes caught as bycatch, but the areas that they inhabit currently aren’t targeted by shrimp trawling fisheries. However, as fisheries expand, sand devils could find themselves at risk due to higher rates of bycatch. The IUCN states that this species is vulnerable to overexploitation. Let’s hope that this species can remain safe from fisheries well into the future! To keep the sand devil safe, make sure to support @angelsharkproject, the Angel Shark Conservation Network, Shark Advocates International, and the IUCN Shark Specialist Group. ••••••••••••••••••••••••• #angelsharkprofiles #shark #sharks #angelshark #sanddevil #sanddevilshark #atlanticangelshark #diversesharks #sharkeducation #savesharks #savethesharks #helpsavesharks #bycatch #overfishing #stopoverfishing #replacefearwithfacts #stopsharkfinning https://www.instagram.com/p/B0EGUHYBUU5/?igshid=1gtslfwlti3d9

Species Profile No. 29: The Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) The scalloped hammerhead is one of the two most well-known hammerhead species, along with the great hammerhead. These two species are usually what people will envision if you say the word hammerhead! Scalloped hammerheads can be recognized by the shape of the front of their head, which has a scalloped edge, whereas great hammerheads have a smooth head. Scalloped hammerheads are listed as Endangered. Females can take as long as 15 years to mature, and pregnancy lasts for 9-12 months. Scalloped hammerheads have fairly large litters of 12-40 pups, but infant mortality is likely high, due to natural predators and fishing pressure. These sharks are captured, intentionally and accidentally, at all life stages. The main product derived from scalloped hammerheads is their fins, which are highly valuable. There may also be several genetically distinct groups of scalloped hammerheads, and some populations could be more threatened than others. More research is needed in this area. They are protected by some finning bans, quotas, and pelagic shark protection plans, but it is unclear how helpful these measures have been to recovering their populations. Whether their overall population is increasing or decreasing is unknown. As with many species of sharks, scalloped hammerheads are in need of more research and stricter protection regulation. To help endangered sharks like the scalloped hammerhead, please support Shark Advocates International and the IUCN Shark Specialist Group. ••••••••••••••••••••••••• #hammerheadprofiles #shark #sharks #hammerhead #hammerheadshark #scallopedhammerhead #diversesharks #sharkeducation #savesharks #savethesharks #helpsavesharks #bycatch #overfishing #stopoverfishing #replacefearwithfacts #stopsharkfinning https://www.instagram.com/p/BxtNL6HhuLd/?igshid=bjaiuxcdxcaj

Species Profile No. 36 & 37: The Disparate Angel Shark (Squatina heteroptera) and Mexican Angel Shark (Squatina mexicana) We’ve decided to do a very special two-for-one species profile post! We chose to feature them together because they have something in common: nothing seems to be known about them! They are not assessed by the IUCN. They are found in the Gulf of Mexico, but nothing more is known about their ecology, reproduction, or population. Species like these are great examples of how important shark research is. You’ve likely seen articles about how poorly understood species like great whites and whale sharks are. For both of these species, there are huge, significant things we don’t know about their reproduction. But they’re two of the most extensively studied species of sharks in the world! When put into this context, it’s easy to see just how much of a complete mystery most other shark species are - especially species like disparate and Mexican angel sharks. To help support angel sharks, make sure to support @angelsharkproject, the Angel Shark Conservation Network, Shark Advocates International, and the IUCN Shark Specialist Group. ••••••••••••••••••••••••• #angelsharkprofiles #shark #sharks #angelshark #disparateangelshark #mexicanangelshark #squatina #diversesharks #sharkeducation #savesharks #savethesharks #helpsavesharks #bycatch #overfishing #stopoverfishing #replacefearwithfacts #stopsharkfinning https://www.instagram.com/p/B0TkqEchiCu/?igshid=1gr6p37447z79