Between shark and ray: The evolutionary advantage of the sea angels

Coplete skeleton of a sea angel (Pseudorhina acanthoderma; SMNS 86214/41) from the Upper Jurassic period (ca. Millionen years) from the Nusplinger Plattenkalke in Baden-Württemberg (Germany) (© J. Kriwet). Threatened with extinction despite perfect adaptation Angel sharks are sharks, but with their peculiarly flat body they rather resemble rays. An international research team led by Faviel A. López-Romero and Jürgen Kriwet of the Institute of Palaeontology has now investigated the origin of this body shape. The results illustrate how these sharks evolved into highly specialised, exclusively bottom-dwelling ambush predators and thus also contribute to a better understanding of their threat from environmental changes. The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports. The general picture of a shark is that of a fast and large ocean predator. Some species, however, question this image - for example angel sharks.