16. SQUATINIDiE SQUATINA. 35 



Super-family SQUATINOIDEA. 



{The ISqaatinoid Hharkn.) 



Family XVI.— SQUATINID^E. 



(77/^' Aiu/rl Sharks.) 



Ray-like sharks. Body depressed aud flat; mouth auterior; teeth 

 conical, pointed, distant; ])ectoral tins very large, expanded in the plane 

 of the bod^-, but free from it, behig deeply notched at the base ; ventral 

 fins very large; two small subequal dorsal fins behind the ventrals ; no 

 anal fin ; caudal fin small ; gill-oi)eniugs wide, subinferior, partly covered 

 by the base of the pectoral ; spiracles ^vide, crescent-shaped; behind the 

 eyes ; nostrils on the front margin of the snout, Avith skinny flaps. A 

 single genus, with perhaps but one si)ecies. Sharks of singular appear- 

 ance, inhabiting most seas. {Bhinidcc Giinther, viii, 4.')0.) 



33.— SQUATINA Dumeril, 1«0(1 

 Angel Sharks. 



(Bhina Kk-in. ) 



(Aldrovaudi, DumcSril, Zool. Anal. 1806, : tyi)e Sqitulun NqiinUiia L. ;= Sqnalina aii- 

 gelus Dum.) 



The characters of the genus are included abov^e. {Squatma, the Latin 

 name of S. angeluSj from sqiiaUis, skate.) 



43. S. angeliis l)aui6ril. — Auj/r.l-Jisli ; Monk-fmh ; Angel Shark. 



Bluish ash-gray above, much blotched and speckled ; beneath white ; 

 caudal fin short triangular, lower lobe longest ; dorsal fins short andj 

 high ; skin rough, with 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 s])ecies has been generally considered as distinct from the Euro- 

 jx'an, under the name >S^. dumerili, but without evident reason. A spe- 

 cies considered by Dr. Gunther to be identical with Squatina angelus 

 also occurs on our Pacific coast. 



{S(ji(ttlii>i Hfjiiiitina Jj. y^yst. 'Silt.: >Squ(iti)ia cnii/clufi Dumeril, ZdoI. Anal. 10-i : N(/i((//i(4 

 dumerili Lc Sncnr, Jonru. Ac. Nat. .Sci.Pliila. i, 225: Rhina squat iun Gihiiher, viii, 430: 

 SqiiaHita californiea Ayves, Proc. Cal. 'Ac. Nat. Sci. 1859, 29.) 



