| Main Ref. | Compagno, L.J.V. and V.H. Niem, 1998 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | other |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | placoid scales |
| Diagnosis |
Japanese angelshark Squatina japonica has broad pectoral fins with rounded free rear tips, posterior margin nearly straight, inner margin strongly convex; nasal barbels simple and spatulate. Anterior nasal flaps smooth to weakly fringed; dermal folds on sides of head without lobes. Rear tip of inner margin of pelvic fins considerably anterior to origin of first dorsal; very short hypocercal tail. Rows of moderately large spines on midline of back and tail from head to dorsal fins and between fin bases, and on snout and above eyes. Body color blackish brown with small dark and pale spots; no ocelli (eye-like spot) (Ref. 247, 31369, 12951). |
| Ease of Identification | likely to be confused with closely related species. |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | |
| Scale rows above lateral line | |
| Scale rows below lateral line | |
| Scales around caudal peduncle | |
| Barbels | |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
| Ventral 0 - 0 | |
| Spines total | 0 - 0 |
| Soft-rays total | 0 - 0 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | other (see remark); asymmetric |
| Fins number | |
| Spines total | 0 - 0 |
| Soft-rays total | 0 - 0 |
| Pectoral | Attributes other (see diagnosis) |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 0 - 0 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes other (see diagnosis) |
| Position abdominal before origin of D1 | |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 0 - 0 |