No photo available
Bowmouth guitarfish
Rhina ancylostomus
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Bowmouth guitarfish
- Scientific
- Rhina ancylostomus
- Dhivehi
- No recorded Dhivehi name
- Group
- Rays
- Family
- Rhinidae (wedgefishes)
- Maximum size
- Up to about 3 m (total length); max. published weight 135 kg
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 3 to 90 m
- IUCN status
- CR · Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered (CR), assessed 2018CITES Appendix II
Description
An unusual shark-like ray with a broad, rounded head, large high fins, and heavy ridges of thorns over the eyes and along the back. It is grey to brown above with white spots on the body and fins and black spots on the head. It lives on sand and mud near coastal and offshore reefs and crushes crabs, shellfish and bottom fish with ridged teeth. It is Critically Endangered across its range.
In the Maldives
Sharks and rays are fully protected in the Maldives; this species is listed on CITES Appendix II.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Rhina-ancylostomus.html
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Rhina_ancylostoma-2.jpg
Dhivehi name source: No Dhivehi name found in MRS 1997 (available chapters), FishBase (country: Maldives) or Dhivehi Wikipedia.