Squatina Duméril, 1806

Ebert, David A., White, William T., Ho, Hsuan-Ching, Last, Peter R., Nakaya, Kazuhiro, Séret, Bernard, Straube, Nicolas, Naylor, Gavin J. P. & De Carvalho, Marcelo R., 2013, An annotated checklist of the chondrichthyans of Taiwan, Zootaxa 3752 (1), pp. 279-386 : 300-301

Genus Squatina Duméril, 1806

Angel Sharks / Ḑḛé

Squatina Duméril, 1806: 102 , 342. Type species: Squalas squatina Linneaus 1758 , by subsequent designation.

Squatina formosa Shen & Ting, 1972

Taiwan Angel Shark / Ớ Ḑḛ

Squatina formosa Shen & Ting, 1972: 21 , fig. 4. Holotype: NTUM 01329 (formerly NTT 7213130 ), 337 mm. TL juvenile male, 20°28.0'N, 120°26.3'E, S.W. Taiwan, 183 m.

Local synonymy: Squatina formosa: Shen & Ting, 1972: 21 , fig. 4; Shen, 1984a: 68, fig.; Chen & Yu, 1986: 116; Chen & Joung, 1993: 42; Walsh & Ebert, 2007: 31, fig. 2, tabs. 1–2; Shao et al., 2008: 237; Ho & Shao, 2011: 19; Walsh et al., 2011: 49, figs. 3–5, tab. 2. Shen & Wu, 2011: 88, fig.

Taiwan voucher material: Holotype : NTUM 01329 (formerly NTT 7213130 ), juvenile female, 22°26' N, 120°30' E, Dong-gang, 31 Jan 1972 . Other specimens (3): DAE 881805 , juvenile male 321 mm TL, Da-xi, 18 May 1988 ; CAS 235394 , juvenile male 387 mm TL, Da-xi, 21 May 2005 ; CAS 235396 , juvenile female 682 mm TL, Da-xi, 23 May 2005 .

Remarks: Walsh & Ebert (2007) re-examined and reviewed the members of this genus from Taiwanese waters and determined that the holotype was indeed valid, but that the paratypes (n = 3) were all of a different species, S. nebulosa . The original description of S. formosa by Shen & Ting (1972) was based on a combination of both species, thus causing confusion in separating these two morphologically similar species. Also, the type series had been relabled with two different specimens being listed as the holotype. See Walsh & Ebert (2007) for a redescription and detailed discussion of this species.

Conservation status: Endangered.

Squatina japonica Bleeker, 1858

Japanese Angel Shark / ƂÂḐḛ

Squatina japonica Bleeker, 1858: 40 . Holotype: RMNH 7416 , juvenile male, 525 mm TL, Nagasaki, Japan.

Local synonymy: Squatina japonica: Kuroda, 1951: 316 ; Chen, 1963: 100; Shen, 1984a: 68, fig.; Chen & Yu, 1986: 116; Chen & Joung, 1993: 42, pl. 3.6; Walsh & Ebert, 2007: 31, fig. 4, tab. 1; Walsh et al., 2011: 55, figs. 3; Shen & Wu, 2011: 88, fig.

Taiwan voucher material: No specimen examined in this study.

Remarks: The only specimens of this species examined for this study were at a fish market in Keelung in April- May 1988 ( DAE, pers. obs.). This species does not appear to be as common as S. formosa and S. nebulosa in Taiwanese waters.

Conservation status: Vulnerable.

Squatina nebulosa Regan, 1906

Clouded Angel Shark / ẴĠḐḛ

Squatina nebulosa Regan, 1906: 439 . Holotype: BMNH 1862.11 .1.89, juvenile female, 580 mm. TL specimen, Japan.

Local synonymy: Squatina nebulosa: Teng, 1962: 180 , fig. 45; Chen, 1963: 101; Shen, 1984a: 68, fig.; Chen & Yu, 1986: 116; Chen & Joung, 1993: 42, pl. 3.7; Walsh & Ebert, 2007: 31, fig. 5, tab. 1–2; Shao et al., 2008: 237; Walsh et al., 2011: 49, figs. 3–5, tab. 2; Shen & Wu, 1022:88, fig.

Taiwan voucher material: (8 spec.) Catalogued as paratypes of S. formosa , but reidentifed as S. nebulosa in Walsh & Ebert (2007): NTUM 01327 (formerly NTU 7222433 and NTU 7041632), caught 3 km off the coast of Da-xi (24°56.5’N, 121°53.0’E) in 100–120 fathoms, 16 Apr 1970; NTUM 01328 (formerly NTU 7041632), juvenile female, Da-xi, 24 Feb 1972; DAE 882105, juvenile female 399 mm TL, Da-xi, 21 May 1988; CAS 235395, juvenile male 402 mm TL, Da-xi, 23 May 2005; DAE 052505, juvenile male 610 mm TL, Da-xi, 25 May 2005; AMNH 258172 (tissue accession GN 10161), juvenile female 405 mm TL, CSIRO H 7402-05 (tissue accession GN 10160), juvenile male 512 mm TL, Dong-gang, 20 Mar 2012; MNHN 2013-0506 (tissue accession GN 10126), juvenile male 396 mm TL, Dong-gang, 19 Mar 2012.

Remarks: Squatina nebulosa is morphologically very similar to S. formosa , with both species being the two most common angel shark species found at Taiwan fish markets, especially on the east coast. Misidentification of this species in the original description of S. formosa has lead to confusion in separating these two species. The type series of S. formosa includes three paratypes, all of these appear referrable to S. nebulosa (see Walsh & Ebert, 2007 for discussion of this issue).

Conservation status: Vulnerable.

Squatina tergocellatoides Chen, 1963

Ocellated Angel Shark / ḇûŌḐḛ

Squatina tergocellatoides Chen, 1963: 98 , fig. 28. Holotype: THUP 00348 , juvenile female 625 mm TL, Taiwan Strait.

Local synonymy: Squatina tergocellatoides: Chen, 1963: 98 , fig. 28; Shen, 1984a: 68, fig.; Chen & Yu, 1986: 116; Chen & Joung, 1993: 42; Walsh & Ebert, 2007: 31, fig. 6; Walsh et al., 2011: 49, figs. 3; Shen & Wu, 2011: 88, fig.

Taiwan voucher material: (1 specimen) THUP 348 , female, 625 mm SL , Taiwan Strait.

Remarks: Walsh & Ebert (2007; fig. 6) figured a photograph of this species taken at a fish market in Keelung. The holotype of this species had been reported as lost, but during the present survey one of us (HH) found the primary type for this species. Theiss & Ebert (2013) provide a redescription of the holotype.

Conservation status: Vulnerable.