Rhina ancylostoma

Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Rajiformes
Family: Rhinidae


Distribution and Habitat

  • Occurs widely in the tropical coastal waters of the western Indo-Pacific – Red Sea and East Africa to Papua New Guinea, north to Japan, south to New South Wales, Australia, at depths of up to 90 m
  • Usually found near the sea floor, Rhina ancylostomaprefers sandy or muddy areas near underwater structures.

About the fish

    • This fish can be said to be a combination of shark, skates and guitar fish.
    • Maximum size 2.7 m, weight – 135 kg
    • It has a wide body with a rounded snout and large shark-like dorsal and tail fins.
    • The medium-sized eyes and large spiracles, is clearly distinct in the head.
    • It has multiple thorny ridges over its head and back.
    • It has grey or brownish colour above numerous white spots on fins, body and tail, and under part is white.
    • It has black spots on head and shoulders but no eyespots.
    • The five pairs of ventral gill slits are positioned close to the lateral margins of the head.
    • It is a strong-swimming predator of bony fishes, crustaceans, and molluscs.
    • Jaws are armed with heavily ridged, crushing teeth in undulating rows
    • Exhibit ovoviparity, this species gives live birth to litters of two to eleven pups, which are nourished during gestation by yolk.
    • IUCN has assessed it as Vulnerable because it is widely caught by  commercial fisheries for its valuable fins and meat.