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🌊 Marine Critically Endangered 🌡️ Tropical

Broadnose wedgefish

Rhynchobatus springeri Compagno & Last, 2010
Max Length
215 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.6
Depth
16–37 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
-
Vulnerability
72.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
pelagic

📖 Overview

Apparently confined mainly to brackish coastal and estuarine habitats in shallow water . Diet unknown, but presumably similar to other wedgefishes. Males mature at around 115 cm TL , two male paratypes from Sarawak (Malaysia) (IPPS 2009–338, adult male 112.6 cm TL) and Thailand (CAS-GVF 2361 unreg) were fully mature at 113 and 125 cm TL respectively, suggesting that this species is a moderate-sized wedgefish rather than a large species .

Scientific Name
Rhynchobatus springeri
Authority
Compagno & Last, 2010
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
CR
Max Length
215 cm
Depth Range
16–37 m
Latitude
10°S – 20°N
Trophic Level
3.6
Vulnerability
72.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

This moderate-sized species is distinguished by the following set of characters: snout broadly wedge-shaped; preoral snout 16-22% of total length; eye small, length 3.1-4.0 in preorbital snout; interorbital space 2.2-2.7 in preorbital snout; mouth hardly bowed, with strong indentation on upper jaw near symphysis and strong protuberance on lower jaw; tooth rows in upper jaw about 52 (holotype); dorsal snout no spines; dorsal tip of snout with no rostral spines or spines; supraorbital spines small but well differentiated, extending from preorbit to end of spiracle; spines of mid-dorsal row relatively well developed; two obvious rows of small scapular spines on each side; origin of first dorsal fin over origin of pelvic fin bases; predorsal space 42-48% of total length; colour pale greyish green above with 3-4 rows of large, white spots extending along the tail; black pectoral marking distinct, usually closely surrounded with 4 white spots (occasionally 3); anterior pectoral disc with narrow whitish margin; orbital membrane with a pair of dark, widely spaced, recurved lines; interorbital space with no alternating light and dark markings; propterygial radials 1-8 + 20-23, mesopterygial radials 4-6, neopterygial radials 4-7, metapterygial radials 23-29, total radials 57-68 (inc. free radials); vertebrae with 12-14 synarcual centra, 18-28 monospondylous precaudal centra, 78-88 precaudal free centra, 33-40 diplospondylous caudal (free) centra, 113-126 total free centra, 127-139 total centra (including synarcual centra) .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Broadnose wedgefish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; depth range 16 - 37 m . Tropical; 20°N - 10°S, 95°E - 128°E

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🌿 Brackish 🐟 Pelagic
Trophic Level
3.6±0.6

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00363 × L3.11 (TL)
Max TL
215cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Critically Endangered
Assessment Date
2018

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Fishing Vulnerability
72.00/100
High vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.6
Predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
20°N – 10°S
Described By
Compagno & Last, 2010

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