Giant shovelnose ray
📖 Overview
Occurs inshore and offshore, from the intertidal to offshore continental and insular shelves . Young individuals are found inshore on sand flats, around atolls, and in mangrove swamps, estuaries and coastal lagoons . Adults occur inshore, over continental shelf, to ~100 m deep, and also the only rhinobatid reportedly able to live and breed in freshwater . Feeds on shellfish, mainly on crustaceans, prawns and crabs and also small bony fishes . Ovoviviparous . Maturity size at 150-180 cm TL; born at 38-40 cm TL . Probably the major commercial guitarfish in the Western Central Pacific . Caught regularly by demersal tangle net fisheries operating throughout the area. Utilized for its meat, fins (both very high value), skin and cartilage . Reported to attain a maximum length of 4 m .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Physical description for Giant shovelnose ray is currently being compiled.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Giant shovelnose ray is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures . Born at 38-40 cm TL.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; depth range 0 - 100 m . Tropical; 28°N - 32°S, 76°E - 165°E West Pacific: Thailand to New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, south to Australia.
🌿 Ecology
shellfish, mainly on crustaceans, prawns and crabs (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Common Shovelnose Ray · Giant Guitarfish · Giant Shovelnose Ray |
| 🌍CES | pilohřbet západoaustralský |
| 🇩🇪German | Riesengeigenrochen · Schnabelrochen |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | jättikitararausku |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Pesce chitarra gigante indo-pacifico · Pesce violino gigante indo-pacifico |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Reuzenplatsnuitgitaarrog |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Raia-viola-gigante-do-Indo-Pacífico |
| 🌍THA | ปลาโรนันหัวใสยักษ์ |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 3 records indexed .
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