The small teeth have low crowns that may be sharp to blunt, and are arranged in 68–82 rows in the upper jaw and 64–78 rows in the lower jaw. Males are between 90 and 100 cm long, while females are around 99 cm at that age. Usually called “shark steak” or sold in “fish n’ chips” in Santa Barbara. https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/MLMA. Accessed: 29 May 2017. The eyes are small and widely spaced; the spiracles are larger than the eyes and lie closely behind. Enter a search request and press enter. Lives on the sandy seafloor of bays and estuaries up to 12 m deep. Rhinobats Products, a shovelnose guitarfish, is a ray of the Rhinobatidae family. [7] California Department of Fish and Wildlife 2016-2017. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, as covered as an emerging fishery under CDFW Code and the Marine Life Management Act. Offshore waters (young individuals are found inshore on sand flats and in mangrove swamps), Crab, shrimp, worms, clams, small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.
Similar groundfish species are caught with traps, hooks, and lines; even though this species is not specifically listed it is likely caught with similar gear. Guitarfish use their long tails to move through the water, making them resemble sharks more than other rays. [11] Monterey Bay Aquarium. Females bear litters of 1–15 pups every year; the newborn rays measure about 11 cm (4.3 in) long. The shovelnose guitarfish, Rhinobatos productus, is a ray in the family Rhinobatidae.It becomes mature at an estimated seven to eight years old. It is aplacental viviparous, with developing embryos sustained until birth by yolk. The ray can live up to 11 years, and full-grown sizes are around 120 cm for males, and females reach 137 cm. The shovelnose guitarfish was first considered to be a shark because of its dorsal fin's shape. Females are mature when their shell gland and uteri are developed. The shovelnose guitarfish, Rhinobatos productus, is a ray in the family Rhinobatidae. Males and females reach sexual maturity at 37 and 48 cm (15 and 19 in) long respectively.
Reaching 91 cm (36 in) in length, the thornback guitarfish has a heart-shaped pectoral fin disc and a long, robust tail bearing two posteriorly positioned dorsal fins and a well-developed caudal fin. Females carry eggs for 9-12 months before giving birth to a litter of 6-28 pups.
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It becomes mature at an estimated seven to eight years old. [8] In turn, the thornback guitarfish is preyed upon by sharks and the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). [11], The guitarfish is often sold as “fish n’ chips” in Santa Barbara. Web. Fishery Bulletin, 95: 349-359. (858) 534-4440 Lives about 11-16 years [4] Mature males have large claspers proportional to their bodies and have spines. Accessed 11 Sept 2020. [11], Once a trash fish discarded by fishermen, there is now demand for these fish. In some areas (particularly in northern Mexico), their numbers have been depleted significantly, and scientists now believe that the species is near threatened with extinction. It has the dorsal fins of a shark with an elongated shark-like body. Males mature at 8 years old and females mature at 7 years old. Accessed 29 May 2017. [8], This species has had one documented case of an attack on a diver when a male guitarfish was interrupted during mating. The five pairs of gill slits are small and located beneath the disc. For other fish with similar names, see. It becomes mature at an estimated seven to eight years old. https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animal-guide/fishes/shovelnose-guitarfish. Pseudobatos productus. [5] Morphological and genetic variations occur in the mitochondrial DNA in those found in the Gulf of California, evidencing their isolation from the rest. Web. https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Commercial/Landings. [7], The visual system of the shovelnose is more extensive and developed than other Elasmobranchii, with multiple large projections connecting to the brain. The status of this species in Mexican waters is inadequately known but may be more precarious. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Sign up to receive the latest news, upcoming events, and any special offers! Females give birth to 1–15 pups annually in late summer, following a roughly year-long gestation period. Reproductive biology of shovelnose guitarfish Rhinobatos productus from the eastern GC Mexico. 48844), usually 1 - 13 m (Ref. Shovelnose guitarfish are found along the Southwestern coast of North America, ranging from San Francisco to Guerrero, Mexico as well as within the Gulf of California and along the coast of Baja California. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. [3][4][5], Endemic to the northeastern Pacific Ocean, the thornback guitarfish is found from Tomales Bay to Magdalena Bay, with additional isolated populations in the Gulf of California. At the same time, it has a flattened build giving it ray-like features. Accessed: 29 May 2017. This species ranges from Tomales Bay to the Gulf of California, generally in inshore waters no deeper than 6 m (20 ft). 1997. Chondrichthyes: Rhinobatidae. Rhinobatos productus has magnetic particles in its vestibular receptors, and the magnetic particles believed to be exogenous in origin.