Fin's Fish Guide
The Guitarfish (Pseudobatos productus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Rhinobatidae that grows up to 119 cm.
Eastern Pacific; sand and mud bottoms of bays, estuaries and coastal reefs.
Description
The shovelnose guitarfish is a ray of the guitarfish family (Rhinobatidae) from the eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 1.2 metres and has a flattened forebody with a triangular, shovel-shaped snout that grades into a shark-like, muscular hind body with two dorsal fins and a powerful tail. It lives on sand and mud bottoms of bays, seagrass beds, estuaries and near rocky reefs, and is nomadic and gregarious. As a bottom hunter it feeds on crabs, worms, molluscs and small fishes. Unlike stingrays a guitarfish lacks a venomous spine; it is harmless to humans. Owing to fishing the species is listed as Near Threatened (NT).
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the Guitarfish?
The Guitarfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Shovel-shaped snout and a shark-like rear body; lacks the venomous spine of stingrays.
Where does the Guitarfish live?
The Guitarfish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Eastern Pacific; sand and mud bottoms of bays, estuaries and coastal reefs.
How big does the Guitarfish get?
The Guitarfish grows to a maximum of about 119 cm.
Is the Guitarfish dangerous to humans?
No, the Guitarfish is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.
Is the Guitarfish edible?
The Guitarfish is rarely eaten.
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All data
Identification
Appearance
Habitat & distribution
Behaviour & biology
For anglers
Safety
Status & sources
Same genus Pseudobatos
More from the family Rhinobatidae
Want the complete picture on the Guitarfish?
Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Guitarfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.