16. SQUATINID^ SQUATINA. 
35 
Super-family SQUATINOIDEA. 
{The Squatinoid Sharhs.) 
Family XVI.— SQUATINIDvE. 
{The Angel Sharks.) 
Ray-like sharks. Body depressed aud flat; mouth anterior; teeth 
conical, pointed, distant; pectoral tins very large, expanded in the phine 
of the body, but free from it, being deeply notched at the base ; ventral 
fins very large ; two small subequal dorsal fins behind the ventrals ; no 
anal fin ; caudal fin small ; gill-openings wide, subinferior, partly covered 
by the base of the pectoral ; spiracles wide, crescent-shai)ed ; behind the 
eyes; nostrils on the front margin of the snout, with skiuuy flaiis. A 
single genus, with perhaps but one species. Sharks of singular aiipear- 
ance, inhabiting most seas. {Bhinidce Gunther, viii, 430.) 
33.— SQUATINA Dum6ril, 1806. 
Angel Sharks. 
(Rhina Klein. ) 
(Aldrovandi, Duin^ril, Zool. Anal. 1806, : type Sqiialus squatina L. = Squaiiua an- 
gelus Dum.) 
The characters of the genus are included above. {Squatina^ the Latin 
name of S. angelus^ from squatus, skate.) 
43. S. angelus Dnm6ril. — Angel-fish; Monk-fish; Angel Shark. 
Bluish ash-gray above, much blotched aud speckled ; beneath white ; 
caudal fin short triangular, lower lobe longest ; dorsal fins short and 
high ; skin rough, vdth small stiff prickles, largest along the middle 
line of the back ; eyes small. A small shark, with expanded pectorals, 
like a ray, found in most warm seas, not very common on our coasts. 
Our species has been generally considered as distinct from the Euro- 
pean, under the name S. dumerili, but without evident reason. A si)e- 
cies considered by Dr. Gunther to be identical with Squatina angelus 
also occurs on our Pacific coast. 
(Squalus squatina 1 j. Syst. Nat.: Squatina angelus Dum^ril, Zool. Anal. 102: Squalus 
dumerili Le Siienr, Jonrn. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. i, 225 : Rhina squatina Giintber, viii, 430 : 
Squatina californica Ayres, Proc. Cal. Ac. Nat. Sci. 1859, 29.) 
