Opportunistic predation on juvenile angelsharks Squatina squatina: the greater amberjack Seriola dumerili as a potential threat

Abstract

The first documented case of predation on a juvenile critically endangered angelshark Squatina squatina by a greater amberjack Seriola dumerili was observed in 2024 at Las Teresitas Beach, Tenerife, Canary Islands. The sequence shows a roughtail stingray Bathytoshia centroura initially attempting to predate on S. squatina, which briefly escaped before being captured by S. dumerili. This observation provides new insights into predator-prey dynamics of S. squatina, highlighting the critical role of these interactions in shaping conservation strategies for critically endangered species.