I wish today was Friday the 13th or even Halloween since it would make Wild Fact #666 even more creepy.  I am also wishing I would have saved the Tasmanian Devil or the Thorny Devil Wild Fact for today.  Oh well, what can you do right?  We will have to settle for the Angel Shark which may sound all divine and holy but you should hold off judgment until you hear their other name.   This angelic animal is also known as the “Sand Devil” so it actually fits perfectly with today’s theme.

You may have taken a double look from the title to the picture as the Angel Shark looks nothing like the sharks we typically see.  I know I haven’t see the Jaws movie in an awfully long time but I am sure he looked more fierce than this.  Although this animal looks more closely related to a skate or a ray they are indeed classed as sharks.  They have all the same parts as a shark but somehow managed to get flattened somewhere down the evolutionary line.

So how did these beautiful creatures get two very different names?  Well their flattened pectoral fins look very similar to wings or even a halo.  I am just thinking out loud but wouldn’t a shark with wings be really cool to see?  I have also heard people mention that the taste of an Angel Shark is truly a heavenly experience.   On the other end of the spectrum is the pure evil side of the Angel Shark.  They have incredibly sharp teeth and are not afraid to use them.  I suppose the name “Sand Devil” is appropriate if you were an unsuspecting victim to a vicious Angel Shark bite.  I do feel bad for this poor shark as they must be in a constant state of confusion.  They have the angel on one side and the devil on the other.  How in the world are they suppose to make the right decisions?

You are in luck if you wanted to get a closer look at this heavenly, divine shark (or evil patron of doom depending which features you look at) as they can be found all over the world.  There are 19 species of Angel Shark that can be found in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.  There is even a small section of the Indian Ocean that contains the infamous Sand Devils.  If you do travel to one of these areas, make sure you bring your diving gear.  Angel Sharks are typically found on the ocean floor in either shallow sections or at depths up to 1300 m (4265 feet).  That is a long way down!

That does it for our evil Wild Fact.  I will be away for most of next week as I will be soaking up the sun in Victoria.  Yes, this means I will be doing a theme next week.

I do want to warn all of my readers that there could be a disruption in your daily Wild Facts.  My computer has been having some major issues (I keep getting the awful Blue Screen of Death) so I am hoping it holds out long enough for me to complete my Wild Facts this weekend.

Have a great weekend everyone!