Guitarfishes (Wedgefishes)
Wedgefishes or sharkfin-guitarfishes are the common names for the members of the Rhynchobatinae, a subfamily for the Rhinobatidae (Guitarfishes) family. They have a wing-like pectoral disc similar to the stingrays, and sharks body. They are distinguished by their falcate shark-like shape dorsal fins, where their first dorsal fin originates above the pelvic fins.
Members of the Rhynchobatinae are found in the tropical continental seas of the eastern hemisphere. There is a single known genus and 9 species worldwide. They can be found from the seashore to a depth of at least 64 m, occurring on soft bottom in estuaries, lagoons, and enclosed and open bays. These fishes are strong but slow swimmers. They are commonly found near the bottom but often swimming well above it or near the surface. All species are live-bearing. They feed on benthic invertebrates and are inoffensive to human.
Members of the Rhynchobatinae are found in the tropical continental seas of the eastern hemisphere. There is a single known genus and 9 species worldwide. They can be found from the seashore to a depth of at least 64 m, occurring on soft bottom in estuaries, lagoons, and enclosed and open bays. These fishes are strong but slow swimmers. They are commonly found near the bottom but often swimming well above it or near the surface. All species are live-bearing. They feed on benthic invertebrates and are inoffensive to human.
Scientific Name: Rhynchobatus australiae Whitley, 1939
English Name: Whitespotted Wedgefish, White-spotted Shovelnose Ray, Bottlenose Wedgefish
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 澳洲尖犁头鳐 (Àozhōu jiān lí tóu yáo), 龙纹鲨 (Lóng wén shā), 犁头鲨 (Lí tóu shā), 畚鲨 (Běn shā), 笨鲨 (Bèn shā)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Yu Kemejan Kia-kia, Perejang, Pari-kemejan Tompok Putih
Bahasa Indonesia: Hiu Lontar
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาโรนันจุดขาว (Plā ro nạn cud k̄hāw)
Local Hokkien: Pun Sua
Main Identification Features: Snout distinctly bottle-shaped, constricted in front of tip. First dorsal-fin origin well behind pelvic-fin origin. Mostly with 3 white pectoral spots in a line adjacent to the black spot.
Size: Maximum total length about 300 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Soft bottoms and near coral reefs, from close inshore to depths of at least 60 m on the continental shelf. Feeds on bottom crustaceans and molluscs.
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Scientific Name: Rhynchobatus palpebratus Compagno & Last, 2008
English Name: Eyebrow Wedgefish
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 龙纹鲨 (Lóng wén shā), 犁头鲨 (Lí tóu shā), 畚鲨 (Běn shā), 笨鲨 (Bèn shā)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Yu Kemejan
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาโรนันคิ้วขาว (Plā ro nạn khîw k̄hāw)
Local Hokkien: Pun Sua
Main Identification Features: Snout long and narrowly pointed. Black eye-brow like markings on orbital membrane. Large, sharp-edged, black ocelli on pectoral-fin bases surrounded by three to four white spots. Short rows of spots on each side that terminate beneath first dorsal fin and sometimes continue along the mid-dorsal as pale faint lines.
Size: Maximum total length about 262 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal waters, 5 to 61 m depth. Presumably feeds on bottom-dwelling fishes, crustaceans and molluscs.
Scientific Name: Rhynchobatus springeri Compagno & Last, 2010
English Name: Broadnose Wedgefish
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 龙纹鲨 (Lóng wén shā), 犁头鲨 (Lí tóu shā), 畚鲨 (Běn shā), 笨鲨 (Bèn shā)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Yu Kemejan
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาโรนันจุดขาวใหญ่ (Plā ro nạn cud k̄hāw yai)
Local Hokkien: Pun Sua
Main Identification Features: Broad wedge-shaped snout. Blackish spot near to spiracle behind eye. Black pectoral marking distinct, usually closely surrounded with 4 white spots. Anterior pectoral disc with narrow whitish margin.
Size: Maximum total length about 215 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal and estuarine waters, to 40 m depth. Presumably feeds on bottom-dwelling fishes, crustaceans and molluscs.
English Name: Whitespotted Wedgefish, White-spotted Shovelnose Ray, Bottlenose Wedgefish
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 澳洲尖犁头鳐 (Àozhōu jiān lí tóu yáo), 龙纹鲨 (Lóng wén shā), 犁头鲨 (Lí tóu shā), 畚鲨 (Běn shā), 笨鲨 (Bèn shā)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Yu Kemejan Kia-kia, Perejang, Pari-kemejan Tompok Putih
Bahasa Indonesia: Hiu Lontar
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาโรนันจุดขาว (Plā ro nạn cud k̄hāw)
Local Hokkien: Pun Sua
Main Identification Features: Snout distinctly bottle-shaped, constricted in front of tip. First dorsal-fin origin well behind pelvic-fin origin. Mostly with 3 white pectoral spots in a line adjacent to the black spot.
Size: Maximum total length about 300 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Soft bottoms and near coral reefs, from close inshore to depths of at least 60 m on the continental shelf. Feeds on bottom crustaceans and molluscs.
Click button below to see more species info and photo.
More
Scientific Name: Rhynchobatus palpebratus Compagno & Last, 2008
English Name: Eyebrow Wedgefish
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 龙纹鲨 (Lóng wén shā), 犁头鲨 (Lí tóu shā), 畚鲨 (Běn shā), 笨鲨 (Bèn shā)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Yu Kemejan
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาโรนันคิ้วขาว (Plā ro nạn khîw k̄hāw)
Local Hokkien: Pun Sua
Main Identification Features: Snout long and narrowly pointed. Black eye-brow like markings on orbital membrane. Large, sharp-edged, black ocelli on pectoral-fin bases surrounded by three to four white spots. Short rows of spots on each side that terminate beneath first dorsal fin and sometimes continue along the mid-dorsal as pale faint lines.
Size: Maximum total length about 262 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal waters, 5 to 61 m depth. Presumably feeds on bottom-dwelling fishes, crustaceans and molluscs.
Scientific Name: Rhynchobatus springeri Compagno & Last, 2010
English Name: Broadnose Wedgefish
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 龙纹鲨 (Lóng wén shā), 犁头鲨 (Lí tóu shā), 畚鲨 (Běn shā), 笨鲨 (Bèn shā)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Yu Kemejan
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาโรนันจุดขาวใหญ่ (Plā ro nạn cud k̄hāw yai)
Local Hokkien: Pun Sua
Main Identification Features: Broad wedge-shaped snout. Blackish spot near to spiracle behind eye. Black pectoral marking distinct, usually closely surrounded with 4 white spots. Anterior pectoral disc with narrow whitish margin.
Size: Maximum total length about 215 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal and estuarine waters, to 40 m depth. Presumably feeds on bottom-dwelling fishes, crustaceans and molluscs.
