Species: Squatina mapama, Small-crested Angel Shark

Squatina mapama Long et al, 2021

Small-crested Angel Shark

Moderately large, flattened, ray-like; head and body greatly flattened; head a transverse oval in top view, with a distinct neck; folds on side of head low; eyes on top of head; a pair of large spiracles behind eyes; head with 2-3 enlarged denticles on top edge of mouth, 1-2 before eye, 2-5 after eye, one centered between spiracles; nostrils at top of snout, two nasal barbells short, bluntly rounded, with finely fringed margins, nasal flaps square, with finely fringed margin; spiracles with very reduced papillae along inner margin; mouth opens at front; top and lower jaws with 28 tooth rows in each of 2-3 functional series; five long gill slits under head; two small, equal sized oval dorsal fins near tail base, similar in size & shape; pectoral fins greatly enlarged, triangular, with straight front edges and no front shoulder, front tips bluntly pointed, rear edge slightly concave, rear tips narrowly rounded, inner edges broadly convex and rounded, well separated by deep notches from head and pelvic fins; pelvic fins smaller, triangular; no anal fin; tail fin very short, nearly symmetrical, lower lobe slightly longer; fine skin denticles cover entire top of back; centerline of body WITH one row of enlarge skin denticles on tail between rear insertion of pelvic fins and 1st dorsal fin, continuing between the two dorsal fins.

Top surface grey to yellowish brown, with scattered small dark spots; bottom surface white.

Size: more than 40 cm (only immatures captured to date).

Habitat: soft bottoms.

Depth: 260-272 m.

Panama..