Rhina ancylostoma Guitarfish Shark's Crest (1) Races Rays Dogfishes Cartilaginous Fishes Chondrichthyes Selachians Elasmobranchs Rajiformes

Description

Origin : Indian Ocean (Madagascar)

Size : cm 17.5

Guitarfish Shark's Head's Crest cm 17.5 Rhina ancylostoma Races Rays Dogfishes Cartilaginous Fishes Chondrichthyes Selachians Elasmobranchs Rajiformes, only a piece, as in photos.
Cartilaginous Crest bristling with spines of Deep Ray Shark, with modified teeth to break molluscs.
Rare ! It's a very hard specie to find now ! Only a piece, as in photos.
Common name: Bowmouth Guitarfish, Shark Ray or Mud Skate.
Syn. Rhina cyclostomus.

Rhina ancylostoma (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) is a cartilaginous fish of the Rhinidae family. It can reach 2.7 meters in length and 135 kg in weight.
The body structure of R. ancylostoma is unmistakable, mixing characteristics of sharks and stingrays. In fact, it presents the front part of the body flattened on the horizontal plane, giving it the flattened shape typical of the Rajiformes, an order in which it actually belongs. The front edge of the head seen from above is broad and rounded, not presenting the typical pointed extension of the Rhinobathidae family. On the head there are some ridges detected, equipped with denticles developed in the form of thorns, with probable defensive function. The teeth are flat, suitable for shredding.
It frequents the tropical and subtropical areas of the indo -acicultural area preferring warm and temperate waters. It usually lives in coastal waters, within the continental shelf or near the archipelagos, rarely descending below 90 meters of depth, sometimes even pushing near the shore.
A solitary species, it usually moves near sandy or rocky bottoms, occasionally pushing close to the surface. It is not dangerous for man, and tends not to be approached easily.
Being a typically benthic animal, it feeds on small teleost fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other small background creatures.
It is an ovoviviparous species devoid of placenta: the eggs hatch in the uterus, where embryonic development continues, initially nourishing the yolk sac, then indirectly from the uterine fluids through specialized structures. Usually 4 to 5 babies come to light, around 45 cm long. Fertilization is internal and the mating ritual, as in many species of Chondrichthyes, provides for a rather violent ritual, so much so that even serious accidents are not infrequent.
Although it is not the object of targeted fishing, it is still caught incidentally with nets and baited hooks, being then marketed for meat, especially in Asian countries, where it reaches a fair commercial value, especially for large fins, considered of particular value for the preparation of traditional soup.
This species has proved capable of adapting with discrete ease to life in captivity, becoming an attraction of many aquariums with tanks of sufficient capacity. Attempts are under way to obtain its reproduction in captivity, unfortunately with results so far unfavorable.