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Deepseawaters
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Sea SharksShovelnose Guitarfish
Shovelnose Guitarfish
Common Name: Shovelnose Guitarfish
Scientific Name: Rhinobatos productus
Description
The
body of the shovelnose guitarfish is depressed
and gradually tapers into the tail; the disk is longer than
wide. The snout is rather long and rounded at the tip. The
color is gray above becoming lighter below. This species is
distinguished from the banded guitarfish by the absence of
dark crossbars on the back. It can be separated from most
others of this flattened and plated group by the presence
of a tail fin and two dorsal fins. Its sharp pointed nose
distinguishes it from the other guitarfishes.
Range
Gulf
of California to San Francisco, California. The shovelnose
can be found, sometimes in large numbers, over sand or mud
sand bottoms in colder, shallow coastal waters.
Natural History
The
guitarfish diet consists of a variety of crustaceans, worms
and clams. They have been observed feeding on sand crabs in
water less than 3 inches deep. At times they are left stranded
on the beach by receding waves and must wiggle their way back
into the water much like grunion. Shovelnose guitarfish
bear live young, with as many as 28 from a single female.
Mating takes place during the summer months and the young,
apparently born during the following spring and summer, are
6 inch miniatures of the adults.
Fishing Information
Shovelnose
guitarfish
are caught in the surf, in bays and from piers. They take
live or dead bait including clams, mussels, sand crabs and
almost any other bait or lure. The flesh, especially the tail
and back straps, is considered quite good.
Other Common Names
shovelnose
shark, pointed nosed guitarfish, guitarfish
Largest Recorded
5
feet 1.5 inches; 40.5 pounds.
Habitat
Shallow
Sandy Environment.
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