Name: Bowmouth guitarfish
Scientific Name: Rhina ancylostoma Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Family: Rhinobatidae
Group: Tubarões, raias e quimeras
Class: Peixes
Size: 201-400 cm.
Distribution: West Indian and Pacific oceans: Red Sea and Eastern Africa, all through Papua New Guinea, Japan and Australia.
Morphology: Wide and rounded bow-shaped snout. The dorsal fins are similar to those of sharks and shows conspicuous crests of thorns over the eyes, head and back. Jaws have multiple plated teeth, ideal for crushing prey. Colour is grey to brown, with white dots on the fins, back and tail. Black dots on the head.
May grow to 3,00 meters and weigh up to 135kg.
Biology: Dwells within coastal areas and coral reefs, mostly over sandy and silt bottoms, from 3 to 90m deep.
Feeds mostly on benthic crustaceans and mollusks.
Ovoviviparous - females give birth to 4 young, each measuring 45cm.
Threats:
Commercial fishing - caught for the fins
Bycatch
Habitat destruction
Pollution
IUCN conservation status:
Vulnerable
Photo by:
Mafalda Frade
Oceanário Location
Global Ocean
