Giant shovelnose ray (Glaucostegus typus) fish species and information / pictures of Giant shovelnose ray - Glaucostegus typus

Giant shovelnose ray (Glaucostegus typus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Glaucostegus typus

Common Name
Giant shovelnose ray

Biology
Occurs inshore and offshore, from the intertidal to offshore continental and insular shelves (Ref. 9909). Adults are found offshore waters while young individuals are found inshore on sand flats, around atolls, and in mangrove swamps (Ref. 6871). Feeds on shellfish (Ref. 9909). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Reported to live and breed permanently in fresh water (Ref. 6871). Probably the major commercial guitarfish in the Western Central Pacific (Ref. 9909). Caught regularly by demersal tangle net fisheries operating throughout the area. Utilized for its meat, fins (both very high value), skin and cartilage (Ref.58048). Reported to attain a maximum length of 4 m (Ref. 58784).

Classification

Classified By

Anonymous [Bennett], 1830

Class

Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)

Order

Skates and Rays (Rajiformes)

Family

Guitarfishes (Rhinobatidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-West Pacific

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Thailand to New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, south to Australia. Records from the south coast of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar need confirmation.

Range

24°N - 32°S, 91°E - 156°E

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

100 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; depth range 0 - 100 m (Ref. 6871)

Trophic Level

3.6 s.e. 0.50 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

270 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.6250 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (76 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be

Threat To Humans

Harmless (Ref. 12951)

IUCN Red List Status

Vulnerable (VU) (A2bd+3bd+4bd)