Pacific Angel Shark

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Pacific angel shark

Squatina californica

Maximum length: 1.5 m (~4.9 ft)
Diet: Small fishes & crustaceans
Lifespan: ~35 years
Key features: Tan coloration with brown speckles, broad & flattened body, rounded head, broad pectoral fins
Fun fact: Pacific angel sharks are ambush predators; they lie still, patterns camouflaging them against the seafloor, waiting unseen for fish to pass overhead, then quickly strike from below.

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A pacific angel shark burrows into the sandy ocean bottom. Its coat, which resembles the ocean floor, provides camouflage.

Pacific angel sharks look a lot like rays though they have their gill slits on the sides of their heads rather than underneath like rays. (Source: MarineBio)