SHARK RAY; BOWMOUTH GUITARFIDH, MUD SKATEMary JauchMarine Science

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowmouth_guitarfish#Taxonomy_and_phylogeny

CLASSIFICATION Domain-Eukarya Kingdom-Animalia Phylum- Chordata Class- Chondrichthyes Order-Rhinobatiformes Genus-Rhina Species- ancylostoma Rhina ancylostoma

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowmouth_guitarfish#Taxonomy_and_phylogeny

HABITAT•They have been found in tropical and subtropical coastal waters and off shore reefs. •They are in the Indo-Pacific near the Red sea and east Africa to Papua New Guinea, North to Japan, south of the central coast of New South Wales.• inhabits coastal water over a depth range of 3-90 m and usually on or near the bottom but can swim above it. Favors muddy habitats and rocky coral reefs.

Where they have been found

http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/bowmouth_guitarfish

NICHE Most active at night and not territorial. Feed mainly on bottom-dwelling crustaceans

(crabs/shrimps) though they can eat mollusks/bony fishes. Locate prey though smell. Once it finds it prey it eases it into its mouth with short sharp thrusts while its teeth are used to crush their shells of their prey

Tiger sharks eat them so they have the “thorns” on its head to protect it. (includes butting)

Blue streak cleaner wrasses have a symbiotic relationship with Sharkray.

Males are mature at 4.9-5.9 ft. long (females can carry embryos that are 11-12 in long)

In captivity they can live up to 7 years wild is still unknown

http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/bowmouth_guitarfish

VIDEO OF SHARKRAY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

075gLZlvbvE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

TE__0ZyvozEhttp://www.newportonthelevee.com/directory/detail.aspx?id=32

CHARACTERISTICS Large and heavy built (8.9 ft) in length and 300 lb in weight Head is short wide and depressed, with a broad rounded snout, anterior

portion of head includes the eyes and spiracles (opening that leads to mouth).

Nostrils are elongated and nearly crosswise with flaps of skin that separate each opening into inflow/outflow.

Has about 97 teeth that are ridged and arranged in winding bands. 5 pairs of gills slits that are under the head.

2 dorsal fins which are tall and hooked (absence anal fin) Tail much longer than body with a crescent-shaped caudal fin (end of the

tail) A thick ridge running on the middle of the back to use for protection.

(thorn like) White on the buttom and scattered white spots over top of the shark and

black marking above each pectoral fin. Younger the fish more vividly the colors are/bigger spots.

Bowmouth-mouth shape has wavy edges giving the appearance of a long bow

Guitarfish- shape of its body

http://www.newportaquarium.com/Things-to-do/Animals/Shark-Rays.aspx

EFFECTS OF HUMAN They are captured on accident in trawl nets, gill nets, and hook and line

techniques. They are popular in some areas for their meat Hunted mainly for their pectoral fin because

it’s the main ingredient for “shark fin soup”. Its illegal in the U.S and Australian waters but

enforcing it is difficult and there is a black market for these creatures fins.

In Thailand they is the thorns for bracelets Global climate change is killing the coral reefs

these fish use for its habitat.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/nets-let-twometre-shark-ray-into-swimming-enclosure-20111107-1n324.html

THEY ARE VULNERABLE They reproduce slowly Cannot recover after threats they face

(predators) Large declines of the populations have been

recorded over the years since the discovery of the species

The IUCN Red list labeled them vulnerable TED’s (turtle Excluder Devices installed in

some of the trawl nets have reduced their capture significantly.

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/summary/41848/0

WORK CITED http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowmouth_guitar

fish#Taxonomy_and_phylogeny

http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/bowmouth_guitarfish

http://australianmuseum.net.au/Shark-Ray-Rhina-ancylostoma-Bloch-Schneider-1801/

http://www.newportaquarium.com/Things-to-do/Animals/Shark-Rays.aspx

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41848/0