An exciting visitor drag along the coast of Wales recently , as photographer and nautical biologist Jake Davies fascinate footage of the knotty angelshark ( Squatina genus Squatina ) in a world - first for the UK coastline . Listed asCritically Endangeredon theIUCN Red List of Threatened Species , the angelshark has been in decline for the last 50 year but this sighting of a juvenile person in a novel locating could assist to inform preservation efforts to secure their future .
A member of the Chondrichthyes , a form of rubbery fish that incorporate sharks and irradiation , the angelshark has a rather alien body plan . Much like a ray , it has winged fin and a flat body which it can submerge into the moxie for a spot of ambush predating . Like some species of shark , it has telling jaws which it can project outwards at speed to snap up passing fish before they ’ve had a chance to even clock they ’re in danger .
This impressive hunt scheme was captured in Davy ’ video as the angelshark can be seen snatch a gudgeon from its hiding place . As the asterisk of the video demonstrates , their pelt colouration and normal make it easy for angelsharks to camouflage on the seabed .
“ It was incredible to check and shoot it swimming , burying into the gumption and then using its camo to ambush quarry , ” said Davies in apress release . “ This footage is far beyond what we thought would be possible to capture in Wales . ”
Davies ’ chance encounter has also provided an exciting sixth sense into the birthing behaviors of angelsharks , as the shark in interrogative was a juvenile being just 30 centimeters ( 12 inch ) in duration . That this new angelshark was hunt in North Cardigan Bay render that the species is actively engender in UK waters , using the Welsh waters as deliver ground .
“ I ’ve always kept an eye out for Angelsharks during diving , having worked to better understand the coinage for the last four years , ” continued Davy . “ I could n’t trust it when I check the Angelshark , and what was really exciting was that it was a juvenile , just 30 centimetre [ 12 in ] in length – providing further evidence that the species is giving birth in this area . ”
Owing to their curiosity , angelsharks have been give a help hand by theAngel Shark Project : Wales(ASP : W ) , a collaborative between Natural Resources Wales ( NRW ) and the Zoological Society of London ( ZSL ) . It take aim to connect local and fishers with scientists so that such chance observations as this one can build on our understanding of angelsharks and their behaviour .
“ Little is known about the condition , ecology or location of authoritative habitats for Angelsharks in Wales , ” said Ben Wray , Marine Ecologist and Project Manager at NRW . “ Only 4 % of Angelshark record book gathered by ASP : W to date are of juveniles , so this footage is exceedingly crucial . It build our understanding of Angelshark environmental science , include that they use both moxie and assorted habitat and that the juvenile raven on goby . We will habituate this evidence to help design future research and light upon more about this rare mintage in Wales . ”
see an angelshark in the UK ? Let the team know at : www.angelsharkproject.com/map
