the developing embryos are nourished by yolk. Litters of two to ten pups are birthed in spring and summer, with the newborns measuring long. Females mature sexually at long, while male maturation size is unknown. Human interactions The Japanese angelshark is typically inoffensive towards humans, but if disturbed, can inflict a severe bite. Across much of its range, it is a frequent catch (intentional or not) in bottom trawls and probably also set nets and demersal gillnets; the meat is eaten and the rough skin is made into a type of leather called shagreen for use in wood finishing. Angel sharks in general are highly threatened by commercial trawl fisheries due to their susceptibility to capture and low rate of reproduction, and angel shark species elsewhere are known to have declined markedly under fishing pressure. Trawling activity in the Yellow Sea and other parts of the northwestern Pacific is intense and, coupled with pollution, has had a serious impact on the local ecosystem. The Japanese angelshark population is suspected to have declined by up to 50% or more under these conditions, leading the species to be assessed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It may benefit from a ban on trawling imposed in some areas by the Chinese government, though enforcement is inconsistent. References External links "Species description of Squatina japonica" at Shark-References.com Japanese angelshark Fish of Japan Marine fauna of East Asia Japanese angelshark