The smoothback angelshark can reach a length of up to 1.6 metres.
As with other angelsharks, its body is flattened by very wide pectoral fins, giving it the appearance of a long ray. Unlike in rays, however, the pectoral fins are clearly separated from the body. They have two dorsal fins and no anal fin.
The shark is grey-brown with small, round black and white spots and a distinctive white neck spot. The bases and tips of the pectoral fins have symmetrical dark spots, as well as the base of the tail and the lower edge of the dorsal fins. Eyespots with white edges may be present. The outer edges of the dorsal and caudal fins are white, those of the thoracic and pelvic fins dark. Enlarged spines are located in the snout area and around the eyes, but not on the back.
The eyes are on the top of the head with a strong concave surface between them. The outer nostrils are covered with short barbels. The spiracles are large. There are five lateral, lower gill openings. The nasal valves are either only slightly fringed or smoothly edged, the barbels either forked or lobed.
Distribution
The smoothback angelshark is found on Africas western coast down to Namibia, as well as in the Mediterranean. It lives in the outer margins of the continental shelf at depths between 20 and 500 meters, although it usually resides in depths above 100 meters.
