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Pacific guitarfish (Pseudobatos planiceps) — Rhinobatidae

Pacific guitarfish

Pseudobatos planiceps
Family: Rhinobatidae

The Pacific guitarfish (Pseudobatos planiceps) is a saltwater fish of the family Rhinobatidae that grows up to 114 cm.

Length
113.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Pacific guitarfish is a guitarfish (Rhinobatidae) from coastal waters of the eastern Pacific, off Central and South America. The species grows to about 1.1 metres and has a flattened, guitar-shaped forebody that merges into a powerful, shark-like tail, with a sandy back. Unlike stingrays it has no venomous spine. As a bottom-dweller it searches sand and mud bottoms for crustaceans, molluscs and worms. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pacific guitarfish?

The Pacific guitarfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Pacific guitarfish live?

The Pacific guitarfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Pacific guitarfish get?

The Pacific guitarfish grows to a maximum of about 114 cm.

Is the Pacific guitarfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Pacific guitarfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Pacific guitarfish edible?

Yes, the Pacific guitarfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Platkop-gitaarrog sourced
English name
Pacific guitarfish sourced
Scientific name
Pseudobatos planiceps
Family
Rhinobatidae
Other names
Pacific guitarfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
113.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
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 Pseudobatos

More from the family Rhinobatidae

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