Guitarfish

ID points

• Front half flat like a ray, rear half stout like a shark
• Triangular snout, shaped like the head of a guitar
• Often lies half buried in the sand, with only the eyes and spiracles showing

Basics

Family

Rhinobatidae

Length

80–180 cm

Depth

1-100 m

Regions

Temperate & polar

Distribution

Shallow sandy bottoms in tropical and temperate seas

Diet

Crustaceans, molluscs

Easily confused with

Angel SharkFlattened like a ray, but the gill slits open on the sides of the bodyCownose RayFront of the head is notched into two lobes, like a cow's noseElectric RayBody almost a round disc with thick soft edges

Fun fact

The Guitarfish is a transitional group between the sharks and the rays. Seen from above, the whole body has the outline of a guitar, and it swims using its tail fin like a shark rather than its pectoral fins like a ray.