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.