Giant shovelnose ray (Glaucostegus typus)

Scientific name: Glaucostegus typus Anonymous [Bennett], 1830

Giant shovelnose ray (Glaucostegus typus)

The Giant shovelnose ray (Glaucostegus typus) is a freshwater fish of the family Rhinobatidae.

Biology

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

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Glaucostegus typus
Family
Rhinobatidae (Guitarfishes)
Order
Rajiformes (Skates and Rays)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
270
Depth range
0–100 m (0–328 ft)
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; depth range 0 - 100 m
Climate
Tropical
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.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Vulnerable (VU) (A2bd+3bd+4bd)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be

More other freshwater fish

See all other freshwater fish

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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