Latin name

Rhinobatos schlegelii

Other name

Rhinobatos schlegelii

Identification

Rhinobatos: Greek, rhinos = nose + Greek, batis, -does = a ray (Raja sp.)

The snout ridges of the brown guitarfish converge at 2/3 of their length. The length of the nostril is shorter than the distance from the nostril to the edge of the disc (measured along a straight line). The snout is rather long: the width of the mouth is included in the length of the snout (from the anterior margin of the mouth) 3 to 3.3 times, the distance between the spatulae is 3.3 times the length of the snout from the anterior margin of the eyes, the length of the base of the first dorsal fin is 2.7-2.9 times the distance between the dorsal fins.

Rhinobatos formosensis differs from the closely related species by the narrower snout ridges, which in the above species are more or less separated over almost their entire length except for the tip, and by the smaller size of the nostril, the length of which in Rhinobatos formosensis is greater than the distance from the nostril to the edge of the disc.

Features of fish fins

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0.

Fish colouring

The body colour of the brown guitarfish is brown.

Distribution

Found in the western Pacific Ocean in Taiwan and the Philippines. 

Habitat

Subtropical marine coastal species. depth range ? -  200 м. Its natural habitats are open seas, shallow waters, coral reefs and estuaries. 

Size

Males of this species reach a maximum length of 100 cm.

Behavior

Most commonly found near shore on sandy, silty bottoms. Reported to occur offshore. 

Food and feeding habits

It feeds on small bottom-dwelling animals. 

Reproduction

Egg-laying. Males reach maturity at about 55 cm in length. The litter contains from 1 to 14 young. Embryos are initially nourished by the yolk and then receive additional nutrition from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures.

Fishing

This species is commercially important for fishing.

Relationship with a person

Harmless. The most flavourful of the family, served raw in slices or boiled and seasoned. Dried fins are used to make shark fin soup.