Socotra blue-spotted guitarfish

📖 Overview

Occurs in coastal waters. Size range from 20.8 - 62.2 cm TL, males at size 37.8 cm TL is considered very early subadult (apparently start to mature around this size) and juvenile at 20.8 cm TL; while females at 59.4 and 60.2 cm TL are presumed to be adult .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: dorsal surface is smooth, no prominent thorns or tubercles, except for the slightly enlarged granular denticles partially around orbital rims and rather regularly distributed along midline from nape to or to somewhat anterior to first dorsal-fin origin, none between dorsal fins and upper caudal fin; the snout semi-translucent with a few, somewhat elongated bluish-gray spots only, giving it a very reduced stripe-nosed appearance, patterning with small bluish-gray circular spots generally few and confined to symmetrical patterns on snout tip, the posterior pectoral-fin margins, a pair of tiny spots on midbody behind occipital joint, and few spots on posterior pelvic-fin margins; brown spots indistinct on body and dorsal and caudal fins; ventral surface is white except for a blackish blotch and two tiny black spots on ventral snout tip in smallest juvenile paratype; nasal lamellae 43-48; upper jaw tooth row count ca. 64-78; post-synarcual centra 181-186; total vertebral segments 194-200; total pectoral skeleton radials 63-67 .Cross section: flattened.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Socotra blue-spotted guitarfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range 36 - 43 m . Tropical Indian Ocean: off Socotra Is.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute