Fun Facts About the Pacific Angel Shark

Pacific angel sharks are ambush predators, burying their flat bodies in sand or mud on the seafloor as they wait for prey fish or crustaceans to get close enough for them to strike. Although they have excellent camouflage, with skin coloration that blends in almost perfectly with the ocean floor, divers can see them if they know what to look for. An easy way to spot them is the eyes, which are located on top of the head and typically are not buried in the sand. Divers should be cautious, however — although angel sharks are not responsible for any unprovoked bites, they are capable of a very painful bite if disturbed.

Facts About Pacific Angel Sharks:

Where to Find Them: In the shallow coastal waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, from Alaska to parts of South America

Threat Level: IUCN Red List “Near Threatened”

Maximum Size: Approximately 5 feet

Interesting Facts:

-They're also called monkfish or sand devils

-While commonly fished off California in the 1980s and 1990s, the state's ban on gill-net fishing in coastal waters has helped the population recover. They are still fished in Mexico and South America.

-Pacific angel sharks might lie in wait for their prey for days at a time.

-Although they look like skates or rays, angel sharks are true sharks: a ray's pectoral fins are indistinguishable from its head, but angel shark pectoral fins are clearly separated.