Papua New Guinea country information

Common names: Shark ray
Occurrence: native
Salinity: marine
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Recorded off the Sepik River mouth (Ref. 6993).
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/pp.html
National Fisheries Authority: http://www.spc.org.nc/coastfish/Countries/PNG/png.htm
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Kailola, P.J., 1987
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Angelot, Bow-mouthed angel fish, Shark ray, ... more

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) > Rhinopristiformes (Shovelnose rays) > Rhinidae (Wedgefishes)
Etymology: Rhina: Greek, rhinos = nose (Ref. 45335).
More on authors: Bloch & Schneider.

Issue
Spelling following ECoF.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 90 m (Ref. 30573). Tropical; 42°N - 34°S, 30°E - 170°E (Ref. 114953)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Indo-West Pacific: Persian Gulf (Ref. 68964), Red Sea and East Africa to Papua New Guinea, north to Japan, south to New South Wales, Australia.

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m 164.0, range 150 - 178 cm
Max length : 300 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 58784); max. published weight: 135.0 kg (Ref. 9987)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

An unmistakable guitarfish with a broad, rounded snout, large, high pectoral fins, and heavy ridges of spiky thorns over the eyes and on the back and shoulders; jaws with heavily ridged, crushing teeth in undulating rows (Ref. 5578). Grey or brownish above (Ref. 5578), white below; numerous white spots dorsally on fins, body and tail; black spots on head and shoulders but no eyespots or ocelli (Ref. 3919).

Inhabits coastal areas and on coral reefs, close inshore (Ref. 9915). Found on sand and mud bottoms (Ref. 12951). Sometimes found in the water column (Ref. 12951). Feeds mainly on bottom crustaceans and mollusks (Ref. 9915). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Produces litters of 2-11 pups (Ref. 114953). A row of large spines present above the eye, on the center of the nape, and on the shoulder have a defensive function (can be used for butting). Caught commonly by demersal tangle net, and occasionally trawl and longline fisheries (Ref.58048). Difficult to handle and can damage the catch when caught in trawls (Ref. 9915). Utilized fresh and dried-salted; the pectoral fins are the only part which is eaten (Ref. 9987).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae

Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures (Ref. 50449). With 4 in a litter (Ref. 12951). Size at birth 45 cm (Ref. 12951).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Compagno, L.J.V. and P.R. Last, 1999. Rhinidae (=Rhynchobatidae). Wedgefishes. p. 1418-1422. In K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) FAO identification guide for fishery purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9915)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

Critically Endangered (CR) (A2bd); Date assessed: 03 December 2018

CITES (Ref. 128078)

Appendix II: International trade monitored

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Other (Ref. 637)

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial

FAO(Publication : search) | FishSource |

More information

Trophic ecology
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Ecology
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Population dynamics
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Life cycle
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Egg(s)
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Distribution
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BRUVS - Videos

Anatomy
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Otoliths

Physiology
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Nutrients
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Swimming type
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Visual pigment(s)
Fish sounds
Diseases / Parasites
Toxicities (LC50s)

Genetics
Genetics
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Human related
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Aquaculture profiles
Strains
Ciguatera cases
Stamps, coins, misc.

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References
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Check for Aquarium maintenance | Check for Species Fact Sheets | Check for Aquaculture Fact Sheets

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Summary page | Point data | Common names | Photos

Internet sources

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 24.4 - 29.1, mean 28.1 (based on 1422 cells).

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 1.0010 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00372 (0.00166 - 0.00830), b=3.11 (2.91 - 3.31), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 3.6 ±0.50 se; based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=4).

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Medium.

Rhina ancylostomus Bloch & Schneider, 1801