Squatina tergocellatoides

Author: Chen, 1963

Field Marks:
An angelshark with weakly fringed nasal barbels and anterior nasal flaps, and no ocelli on body.

Diagnostic Features:
Anterior nasal barbels strongly fringed; posterior margin of anterior nasal flaps between nasal barbels and tips strongly fringed; distance from eye to spiracle less than 1.5 times eye diameter; dermal folds on sides of head with 2 or 3 prominent 5 triangular lobes. Origin of first dorsal fin usually about prominent opposite pelvic rear tips; pectoral fins rather long and fringes low, free rear tips narrowly subangular. Large spines present on midline of back and tail from head to dorsal frontal view of head fins and between the fin bases, also on snout and above (showing anterior nasal flaps) eyes; lateral trunk denticles pyramidal, not hooked. Colour: no ocelli on body.

Geographical Distribution:
Western North Pacific: Taiwan Straits.

Habitat and Biology:
A little-known angelshark from Taiwan Island waters, details of habitat and biology unknown.

Size:
Maximum total length at least 63 cm (holotype and only 2 known specimen).

Interest to Fisheries:
None at present.

Type material:
Holotype: Tunghai University, THUP 00348, 265 mm female. Type Locality: Taiwan Island Straits.

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