An unmistakable guitarfish with a broad, rounded snout, large, high pectoral fins, and heavy ridges of spiky thorns over the eyes and on the back and shoulders; jaws with heavily ridged, crushing teeth in undulating rows (Ref. The genus name Rhina comes from the Greek rhinos ("snout"); the specific epithet ancylostoma is derived from the Greek ankylos ("curved" or "crooked") and stoma ("mouth"). The Bowmouth Guitarfish (Rhina ancylostoma) is a species of concern belonging in the species group "fishes" and found in the following area(s): Africa, Asia, Australia, Middle East. [3] Modern sources have included it variously in the order Rajiformes, Rhinobatiformes, Rhiniformes, or the newly proposed Rhinopristiformes. The lower jaw has three protruding lobes that fit into corresponding depressions in the upper jaw. new google.translate.TranslateElement({pageLanguage: 'en', layout: google.translate.TranslateElement.InlineLayout.SIMPLE, autoDisplay: false}, 'google_translate_element'); Available at. The bowmouth guitarfish's wave-shaped mouth located on the underside of its head is perfect for eating bottom-dwelling fish. It catches crustaceans easily and crushes their hard shells with its small, close-set teeth. Bowmouth Guitarfish Rhina ancylostoma Bloch & Schneider 1801. Habitat degradation and destruction pose an additional, significant challenge to this ray's survival. However, the meat may also be sold fresh or dried and salted, and it is highly esteemed in India. Habitat. The UAE, Qatar and Oman have banned trawling in their waters (since 1980, 1993 and 2011, respectively) while Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have seasonal ⦠[38] By February 2014, all seven pups had died. [2][18], Rhina ancylostoma is a strong swimmer that propels itself with its tail like a shark. Rhina ancylostoma. The unique fish originated in the Red Sea and the guitar part of its common name is derived from its body shape. Physical Characteristics 5578).Grey or brownish above (Ref. They reproduce through aplacental viviparity, where embryos feed mainly on egg-yolk within the female and are born as live young. Habitat: The Bowmouth Guitarfish inhabits inshore areas, where it is found on sand, mud bottoms, and near coral assemblages, feeding on bottom-dwelling invertebrates, mainly crustaceans and mollusks. Adult females have a single functional ovary and uterus. Physical Characteristics [19] This species feeds mainly on demersal bony fishes such as croakers and crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp; bivalves and cephalopods are also consumed. It favors sandy or muddy habitats, and can also be found in the vicinity of rocky and coral reefs and shipwrecks. [6][20] When caught as bycatch in trawls, Rhina ancylostoma is considered a nuisance because its strength and rough skin make it difficult to handle, and as the heavy ray thrashes in the net it can damage the rest of the catch. 208728. They remain close to the seabed and use their ridged teeth to crush crustaceans and molluscs. The bowmouth guitarfish, mud skate, or shark ray, Rhina ancylostoma (sometimes misgendered ancylostomus), is a species of ray related to guitarfishes and skates, and the sole member of the family Rhinidae.It is found widely in the tropical coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific region, at depths of up to 90 m (300 ft). The second dorsal fin is located midway between the first dorsal and the caudal fin. The broad and triangular pectoral fins have a deep indentation where their leading margins meet the head. The common guitarfish is a cartilaginous fish, similar to a ray or skate. Colors that range from olive to sandy brown on the upper body and white below help shovelnose guitarfish blend into their sandy seafloor habitat. [13][20] Curiously, two Rhina ancylostoma examined in a 2011 stable isotope study were found to have fed on pelagic rather than demersal animals, in contrast to previous observations. There are usually four pups in a litter. This rare species occurs widely in the tropical coastal waters of the western Indo-Pacific, at depths of up to 90 m (300 ft). Bottom-dwelling preferring sandy or muddy substrates. This species gives live birth to litters of two to eleven pups, which are nourished during gestation by yolk. Usually found near the sea floor, Rhina ancylostoma prefers sandy or muddy areas near underwater structures. Bowmouth guitarfishes can be found in coastal regions, usually around coral reefs down to a depth of 90m. Bowmouth Guitarfish (Rhina ancylostoma) Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 202523895 Rapid assessment of the immediate conservation requirements for critically endangered guitarfish in Southern Mozambique. While uncommon, Rhina ancylostoma is widely distributed in the coastal tropical waters of the western Indo-Pacific. It is found in isolated pockets of inshore waters across East Africa, Papua New Guinea, Japan, Northern and Western Australia and New Caledonia. Their flat teeth help⦠Habitat destruction and pollution are also threatening this species. }, The Zoological Society of London is incorporated by Royal Charter – Registered Charity in England and Wales no. It is a strong-swimming predator of bony fishes, crustaceans, and molluscs. [8][10] The placement of the bowmouth guitarfish in the family Rhinidae originates from the group "Rhinae", consisting of Rhina and Rhynchobatus, in Johannes Müller and Jakob Henle's 1841 Systematische Beschreibung der Plagiostomen. 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