Mediterranean · Ecological memory · Species guide
Common guitarfish
The ray once thought lost from the Mediterranean
Rhinobatos rhinobatos - RHINOBATIDAE
Natural-history information
Species reference points
Observation
Where to look:
Original natural-history story
The species story
On sand, a triangular shape blends into the sediment. The common guitarfish may rest motionless or partly buried, then propel itself through waves passing along its body and tail. Its silhouette combines the flattened front of a ray with a long shark-like rear section.
The species has disappeared from much of its historical Mediterranean range. Recent sightings in south-eastern Spain nevertheless show that it has not completely left this sea and that every encounter should be considered exceptional.
This guide belongs to the Ecological Memory of the Mediterranean trilogy.
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