Squatina australis
Angel shark
Squatina australis, adult, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Squatina australis, adult, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Large species with a light grey upper surface covered by numerous white spots. It is often detected buried under a thin layer of sand near reef edges or seagrass beds, but is not common.
Information
Max Size: 152 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 12.1-23.2°C
Depth: 15 - 256 m
Habitat Generalization Index: N/A
Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Occurrence: Infrequent (4.2% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Solitary (1 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney