the arched root along the back of the tooth. However, they appear to be more common when digging in situ. As we mentioned, the angel sharks live up to their "squatty" name, with most species of squatina measuring only about 5 feet (1.5 meters). Angel sharks live between 25 and 35 years and reach maturity at 10-12 years old. This probably makes their teeth appear less common than they really are. Or, if the tooth is flat, broad, and covered with serrations, you might have a bull shark … Sharks that feed on plankton, like the Whale Shark, have little need for teeth as food is passed through large filters and then swallowed. Budker, Paul, and Whitehead, P.J. An angel shark's skin is the same colour and pattern of sand, allowing it to hide and stalk its prey. The angel shark is not known to attack humans, though presumably they could inflict serious damage with their powerful jaws and teeth. However some large species of Angel Sharks, like the Japanese Angel Shark, grow to 8.2 feet in length. Angel shark, (genus Squatina), any of about 15 species of sharks that constitute a single genus (family Squatinidae, order Squatiniformes) characterized by flattened heads and bodies, with winglike pectoral and pelvic fins that make them resemble rays. Bottom dwellers, like the Nurse Shark or Angel Shark, have thick, conical or flat teeth at the backs of their mouths. Angel Sharks grow to an average of 5 feet long and weigh an average of 77 pounds. Angel shark teeth are only about 4 to 5 mm (about .25 in) long, which make them hard to recover from the stream because they fall through most ¼ inch screens. Additional Reading Ashley, L.M., and Chiasson, R.B. The tail bears two dorsal fins and a well-developed caudal fin. A few species, such as the Japanese angel shark and the Mediterranean angel shark, may be as long as 6.5 feet (2 meters), but that's about as long as they get. To identify shark teeth, look for dark, glossy, triangle-shaped objects that are about 1/2 to 2 inches long. Laboratory Anatomy of the Shark (W.C. Brown, 1988). These are designed to crush crabs and other molluscs found on the ocean floor. If you find a serrated tooth with a blade that's the same length as the roots, you might be looking at a tiger shark tooth. (See also Angel sharks.)