Home · Rhinobatidae · Giant shovelnose ray
Giant shovelnose ray (Glaucostegus typus) — Rhinobatidae

Giant shovelnose ray

Glaucostegus typus
Family: Rhinobatidae
CR · Critically Endangered

The Giant shovelnose ray (Glaucostegus typus) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Rhinobatidae that grows up to 270 cm.

Length
270 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
0.0–100.0 m
Body shape
Irregular
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The giant shovelnose ray is a large guitarfish (Glaucostegidae) from coastal and brackish water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 2.7 metres and has a flattened, elongate forebody with a pointed, translucent snout that merges into a powerful, shark-like tail. Unlike stingrays it has no venomous spine. As a bottom-dweller it searches sand and mud bottoms for molluscs, crustaceans and small fish. Through overfishing the species is critically endangered, but it is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Giant shovelnose ray?

The Giant shovelnose ray has an irregular in shape body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Giant shovelnose ray live?

The Giant shovelnose ray lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Giant shovelnose ray get?

The Giant shovelnose ray grows to a maximum of about 270 cm.

Is the Giant shovelnose ray dangerous to humans?

No, the Giant shovelnose ray is harmless to humans.

Is the Giant shovelnose ray edible?

Yes, the Giant shovelnose ray is commonly eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Reuzen-gitaarrog sourced
English name
Giant shovelnose ray sourced
Scientific name
Glaucostegus typus
Family
Rhinobatidae
Other names
Bennet's shovelnose guitarfish; Brown shovelnose ray; Common shovelnose ray; Giant shovelnose ray verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
270.0 verified
Body shape
Irregular sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
100.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Glaucostegus

More from the family Rhinobatidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →