Whitespotted wedgefish

Biology

Although it looks like a shark, the Whitespotted wedgefish belongs to the ray family. The position of the gill slits and mouth are characteristic of a ray. The hydrodynamic shape of the posterior part of the body and the dorsal, pectoral and caudal fins resemble those of a shark.

Conservation

The Whitespotted wedgefish is captured for its pectoral fins, which fetch particularly high prices. Overfishing and habitat degradation are threatening the survival of this species.

Curiosities

This ray swims using its shark-like tail rather than flipping their pectoral fins as most rays do.