Shovelnose Guitarfish

Fascinating facts about the Shovelnose Guitarfish

• Fossils of its ancestors have been uncovered that date back over 100 million years, showing this ray has survived the rise and fall of dinosaurs. Its ancient lineage means it retains traits of both sharks and rays, a living bridge between two major groups of cartilaginous fish.
• Females don’t reach sexual maturity until they’re about eight years old, while males are ready at seven; at that point males measure 90–100 cm and females about 99 cm. The long wait to reproduce explains why populations recover slowly when numbers drop.
• Most individuals stay in shallow bays and estuaries shallower than 40 feet, yet occasional sightings have recorded them at depths of up to 91 m. This preference for coastal hide-aways makes them especially vulnerable to shoreline fishing gear.
• A pregnant female carries on average five embryos, up to ten at most, and gives birth after a 12-month gestation to newborns just 175 mm long and weighing 2.7 g. The tiny newborn size highlights how a single litter adds only a modest boost to the next generation.
• Listed as “near threatened” in 2014, the ray is caught in large numbers by artisanal and industrial shrimp fisheries, especially when pregnant females move into shallow waters to spawn. Without protective regulations, its slow growth and low reproductive output could push it closer to extinction.

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