WHITESPOTTED GUITARFISH / SHOVELNOSE RAY

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Common Names: Whitespotted shovelnose ray, shovelnose shark, whitespotted guitarfish, giant guitarfish, giant shovelnose ray, sharkray, whitespotted wedgefish.

Latin Name: Rhynchobatus australiae.

Family: Rhynchobatidae. Contains 2 genera and about 5 species. The genus Rhina is mono-specific. The genus Rhychobatus represents 4 described and possibly at least two undescribed, closely related species that are extremely difficult to differentiate.

Identification: An extremely large ray. First dorsal fin high and prominent. Second dorsal slightly smaller but also well developed. Snout long and pointed. Conspicuous rows of enlarged dermal denticles around eyes and along centreline of back. Short rows of enlarged denticles on back above pectorals. Dorsum predominantly brown or olive with a covering of well defined light spots sprinkled on torso and pectoral and pelvic fins. Ventrum white. Teeth ridged.

Size: Maximum length 3 meters.

Habitat: Rocky and coral reefs, sand and mud bottoms.

Abundance and distribution: An Indo-Pacific species. The whitespotted guitarfish can be found from the Gulf of Thailand and the Philippines down to Queensland, Australia. A similar species reported from Mozambique and the Gulf of Aden may be the same species. a thorough taxonomic review of this genus is needed.

Behavior: Generally swims near substrate over sand or reef in search of prey but it is also occasionally seen swimming high up in the water column.

Diet: Feeds mainly on bottom dwelling crustaceans and mollusks - crabs, shrimp and clams.

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous (yolk sac viviparity).

IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable. Rhynchobatus australiae is taken by multiple artisanal and commercial fisheries throughout its range both as a target species and as bycatch. Flesh is sold for human consumption in Asia and the fins from large animals fetch exceptionally high prices, creating a significant incentive for bycatch to be retained. Very little is known about the biology or population status of this species. Given its susceptibility to capture by multiple fishing gear types, including trawl nets, gillnets and hooks and its high value fins, it is probable that numbers have been locally reduced by fishing throughout its range. Local population depletion can be inferred from Indonesia where the target gillnet fishery fleet for rhinids and rhynchobatids has declined significantly, reportedly due to declining catch rates. Therefore, globally this species meets the criteria of Vulnerable A2bd+3bd+4bd due to the apparent population decline outlined above and the remaining very high level of exploitation in South East Asia. Habitat destruction may also pose a significant threat to this species throughout much of its range.

Ref: White, W.T. & McAuley, R. 2003. Rhynchobatus australiae. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2.

Similar species: Much larger and more powerfully built than guitarfishes of the family Rhinobatidae. Rhynchobatus luebberti (West Africa), R.laevis (North Western Pacific - Japan).

Reaction to divers: Difficult to approach in the wild

Diving logistics: Occasionally encountered by divers throughout its range. Images exist from encounters with this animal in the Andaman Sea and in Australia. Information on areas where bowmouth guitarfish are commonly seen would be welcome.

References and further reading:

Reef Sharks and Rays of the World. Scott W. Michael. Sea Challengers.

Sharks and Rays. Elasmobranch Guide of the World. Ralf M. Hennemann.

Fishbase.org

IUCN red list

Other names of the Whitespotted Guitarfish:

Names may not display correctly if foreign scripts are not installed.

पोक India Marathi, ळांज India Marathi, 동수구리 Korea Rep Korean, ಎಟ್ಟ ಬಾಲಿಯರ್ India Kannada, ಎಟ್ಟ ಬಾಲಿಯರ್ India Kannada, నుల్ ఉలవి India Telugu, టిపి ఉలవి India Telugu, 吉打龙文鲼 China Main Mandarin Chinese, 吉打龙纹鲼 China Main Mandarin Chinese, 吉打龍文鱝 Taiwan Mandarin Chinese, 吉打龍紋鱝 Taiwan Mandarin Chinese, रांजा India Marathi, கச்சு ுளுவை India Tamil, 及达尖犁头鳐 China Main Mandarin Chinese, 及達尖犁頭鰩 China Main Mandarin Chinese, വരിതലി India Malayalam, படங்கன் India Tamil, വരിത്തല India Malayalam, பாலுங்கா India Tamil, கச்சுளுவை India Tamil, படன்கான் India Tamil, నులులావి India Telugu, టిపిఉలవి India Telugu, నులులావి India Telugu, టిపిఉలవి India Telugu, பலுஙகா India Tamil, వాలవా టెంకీ India Telugu, ધોંસ India Gujarati, ભુથર India Gujarati, వాలవ టెంకి India Telugu, કસજ India Gujarati, Anonan Philippines Hiligaynon, Arado Philippines Bikol, Barbar Oman Arabic, Bariwan Philippines Visayan, Bhuther India Gujarati, Cá Giống sao Viet Nam Vietnamese, Cionaa New Caledonia Numee, Dhons India Gujarati, Ehreery Qatar Arabic, Etti-baliar India Kannada, Fanto Oman Arabic, Giant guitarfish South Africa English, Giant guitarfish UK English FAO Giant guitarfish USA English AFS Giant sandshark South Africa English, France French, Guitar fish India English, Philippines Ilokano, Indo-pacifisk guitarfisk Denmark Danish, Jättikitararausku Finland Finnish, Kachu-ulavai Sri Lanka Tamil, Kachu-uluvai India Tamil, Kamansi-an Philippines Kuyunon, Kasaj India Gujarati, Kiri uluva Sri Lanka Sinhalese, Lanj India Marathi, Mirbuy Australia Guugu Yimidhirr, Pakistan Sindhi, Nawwam Oman Arabic, Nululavi India Telugu, Oolo-oolo shabeelley Somalia Somali, Padanagan India Tamil, Padanangan Sri Lanka Tamil, Paitan Philippines Kuyunon, Pal ulavai Sri Lanka Tamil, Palunga Sri Lanka Tamil, Palunga India Tamil, Papa charawanza Tanzania Swahili, Pari Malaysia Malay, Pating sudsod Philippines Tagalog, Pez cuna manchado Spain Spanish FAO Plough fish India English, Poisson paille à pois France French FAO Pok India Marathi, Fiji Fijian, Raie à museau en pelle Mauritius French, Raie guitare Mauritius French, Ranja India Marathi, Rejnokovec didský Czech Rep Czech, Rejnokovec obří Czech Rep Czech, Requin mamzelle Mauritius Creole, French, Requin raie New Caledonia French, Reus-sandkruiper South Africa Afrikaans, Riesengeigenrochen Germany German, Philippines Bikol, Rubarob Philippines Bikol, Sand shark Mauritius English, Sand shark UK English, Sandy Mauritius English, Saus-e-bozorg Iran Persian, Shark-ray UK English, Shovel nose Mauritius English, Shovelnose UK English, Philippines Tagalog, Sorsor Philippines Banton, Spotted guitarfish UK English, Spotted guitarfish USA English, Sudsod Philippines Bikol, Sudsodan Philippines Bikol, Philippines Tagalog, Suss Oman Arabic, Tipiulavi India Telugu, Tongari-sakatazame Japan Japanese, Varithlai India Malayalam, Violon France French, Violon Seychelles French, Walawah-tenkee India Telugu, White spotted shovelnose guitarfish India English, White spotted shovelnose ray India English, White-spotted guitarfish Micronesia English, Philippines English, White-spotted shovelnose UK English, White-spotted shovelnose ray Papua N Guin English, White-spotted wedgefish South Africa English, Whitespot giant guitarfish UK English, Whitespotted wedgefish UK English, Witgestippelde kegrog Netherlands Dutch, Yu kemejan Malaysia Malay, Yu kia-kia Malaysia Malay

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WHITESPOTTED GUITARFISH / SHOVELNOSE RAY

Behavior: Generally swims near substrate over sand or reef in search of prey but it is also occasionally seen swimming high up in the water column.