Guitarfish

Our creature of the week is the often misunderstood GUITARFISH.

The guitarfish belongs to the family of Rhinobatidae (primitive rays with guitar shaped bodies). Often misperceived as sharks they are actually more closely related to skates and rays. Their bodies are dorso-ventrally flattened, similar to a skate/ray. The tail has two dorsal fins similar to that of sharks. Their pectoral fins are fused to the side of the head which gives them a triangular shaped head. They swim by moving their tail side to side (like all fish) but some species such as the Atlantic Guitarfish have been known to also use their pectoral fins to help in propulsion. Like skates/rays their mouths are found ventrally (underneath the head). Also like skates/rays they have hard plates in their mouths which they use to crush their food.

The guitarfish is found in tropical, subtropical and temperate waters around the world. They are often found near sandy bottoms as some species like to bury themselves in the sand. Guitarfish feed on bottom dwelling animals such as various mollusks and crustaceans including shrimp. It has been shown that the guitarfish will often use their flat rostrum (nose) to hold their prey to the bottom of the floor.

Guitarfish are non-aggressive animals that have never been shown to attack humans. Occasionally people step on these animals when they are wading in shallow waters at beaches. With these animals being abundant in both Florida and California waters I have "encountered" these animals many times. Sadly, I do step on them from time to time and they just swim off with me feeling guilty for having done so. Even more sad is the fact that these animals are often caught in shrimp trawls as bycatch. Because they are not often used for consumption these animals are often wasted and are often cast back into the waters already dead. All too often I have seen people catch these animals off of the Huntington Beach pier, and instead of just throwing it back into the water, they leave it on the pier to die. On some occasions I have asked the fishermen why they didn't throw it back, and my answer is usually because they don't like "sharks." When I explain to the people that this animal is NOT a shark they look dumbfounded.

Guitarfish, just like all animals, are important to their ecosystems. These animals help keep waterways clear of overabundance of shellfish and mollusks.

Ways that we can help save the guitarfish are to limit our consumption of shrimp, or to make sure that the ways in which the shrimp are caught produce little bycatch. Also, if you like to fish or you see others fishing and you or they catch a guitarfish, put it back in the water. These animals are NOT dangerous. They can be easily picked up and gently put back into the water. 

FUN FACT: There is a Guitarfish Music Festival in California that raises awareness of over fishing and pollution.

Click the link below for a video of this animal. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbBk2CRBCgg