Latin name
Rhinobatos lentiginosus
Other names
French: poisson-guitarre tacheté; Italian: pesce violino; Spanish: guitarra.
Identification
The head and pectoral fins form a triangular disk at the front of the body. The posterior part of the body is thick and conical, like a shark. It has two large dorsal fins and a well-developed tail fin. The color varies from gray to brown, with a few pale spots on the body.
Distribution
It is common from North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico, although it is not reported in the Bahamas and the Caribbean. In Florida and Yucatán it is rare. Brazilian fish (R. horkeli) and southern fish (R. percellens) are two closely related species that occur from the West Indies to Brazil.
Habitat
Inhabiting sandy and weedy bottoms, Atlantic guitarfish are found near small reefs, usually buried in seagrass, sand, or mud at depths of 1 to 45 feet.
Size
This species is normally 1 to 2 feet long and can attain a maximum length of 21⁄2 feet. Females are somewhat larger than males.
Life history and Behavior
They give birth to live young, up to six in a litter. At birth, they reach a length of 20 centimeters.
Food and feeding habits
Their diet is small mollusks and crustaceans.
Reproduction
Atlantic guitarfish are oviparous.
Classification | |
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Chondrichthyes |
Squad | Rhinopristiformes |
Family | Rhinobatidae |
Genus | Rhinobatos |
Species | R. lentiginosus |
Features | |
Conservation status | Near Threatened |
Habitat | bottom |
Life span, years | 10 |
Maximum body weight, kg | No information |
Maximum length, cm | 76 |
Sailing speed, m/s | No information |
Threat to people | Edible |
Way of eating | predator |
Guitarfish, Atlantic
Tags: Guitarfish, Atlantic