What are Guitarfish? "A Ray That Looks Like a Shark"
Guitarfish, are fascinating creatures that blur the line between sharks and rays. Their distinctive guitar-shaped body has earned them this unique name.
All guitarfish use to be part of the Rhinobastidae family : "Rhine" derives from the Greek word for shark, and "batis" is Latin for ray, reflecting their hybrid appearance. Despite being rays, their dorsal fins and shark-like tails often lead to confusion, with many calling them "guitar sharks."
While the Shovelnose ray pictured above (Rhinobatos ranongensis) are still part of the Rhinobastidae, Marine biologists have now separated most wedgefish into the Rhinidae Family such as the bowmouth guitarfish below (Rhina ancylostoma) or the giant guitarfish, also known as the whitespotted wedgefish (Rhynchobatus Australiae).
All guitarfish use to be part of the Rhinobastidae family : "Rhine" derives from the Greek word for shark, and "batis" is Latin for ray, reflecting their hybrid appearance. Despite being rays, their dorsal fins and shark-like tails often lead to confusion, with many calling them "guitar sharks."
While the Shovelnose ray pictured above (Rhinobatos ranongensis) are still part of the Rhinobastidae, Marine biologists have now separated most wedgefish into the Rhinidae Family such as the bowmouth guitarfish below (Rhina ancylostoma) or the giant guitarfish, also known as the whitespotted wedgefish (Rhynchobatus Australiae).
Bowmouth guitar fish - Burma banks 2024
"Rare Encounter: Bowmouth Guitarfish at the Burma Banks
Anatomy and Adaptations
Guitarfish's unique anatomy combines features of both rays and sharks but despite their shark-like appearance, guitarfish are members of the ray family.
Like other rays, guitarfish have their mouths positioned on the underside of their bodies, making it easy to feed on bottom-dwelling organisms but difficult to breathe through their mouth! Instead, they use spiracles—small openings on their heads--to breathe without sucking in sand or debris while resting on the seabed.
Guitarfish do not need to keep on swimming, they can pump water through their gills in order to obtain the oxygen that they need.
Like sharks and unlike other rays, which rely on their pectoral fins for propulsion, guitarfish swim using their shark-like tails, giving them a distinctive movement pattern in the water.
Bowmouth guitarfish, a remarkable species within this group, boast rows of thorn-like spikes along their back, providing an armor-like defense against predators. These spikes, along with their robust bodies, make them uniquely adapted to life in the tropical shallows.
Guitarfish's unique anatomy combines features of both rays and sharks but despite their shark-like appearance, guitarfish are members of the ray family.
Like other rays, guitarfish have their mouths positioned on the underside of their bodies, making it easy to feed on bottom-dwelling organisms but difficult to breathe through their mouth! Instead, they use spiracles—small openings on their heads--to breathe without sucking in sand or debris while resting on the seabed.
Guitarfish do not need to keep on swimming, they can pump water through their gills in order to obtain the oxygen that they need.
Like sharks and unlike other rays, which rely on their pectoral fins for propulsion, guitarfish swim using their shark-like tails, giving them a distinctive movement pattern in the water.
Bowmouth guitarfish, a remarkable species within this group, boast rows of thorn-like spikes along their back, providing an armor-like defense against predators. These spikes, along with their robust bodies, make them uniquely adapted to life in the tropical shallows.
 The lower jaw of the bowmouth guitarfish (Rhina ancylostoma) features teeth with rounded, ridged surfaces, perfectly adapted for crushing the shells of their prey. Photograph: King’s College London. | Diet: What do guitar shark eat?Guitarfish are bottom feeders, primarily consuming crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish that inhabit sandy or muddy seabeds. Their flat teeth are designed to crush the hard shells of their prey, allowing them to feed on a variety of sea creatures that many other predators cannot. One fascinating adaptation of bowmouth guitarfish is their rows of shark-like spines along their backs. These spines serve as a natural defense mechanism, deterring predators such as larger sharks. Unfortunately they are also sold in Asia as luxury jewellery ornament. |
Reproduction of the guitar rays
Like many rays, guitarfish are ovoviviparous. This means their embryos develop within eggs that remain inside the mother's body. Once the eggs hatch internally, the female gives birth to live pups, typically ranging from 2 to 11 at a time. These young are fully developed and ready to swim and feed independently from birth.
Are guitar sharks dangerous?Despite their imposing size—some species, like the giant guitarfish on the right, can grow up to 3 meters (9.8 feet)—guitarfish are entirely harmless to humans. They are gentle creatures whose primary predators include larger sharks, such as Tiger sharks, and humans due to overfishing. Unfortunately, many species of guitarfish are now classified as vulnerable or endangered. |  Giant guitarfish, also known as the whitespotted wedgefish (Rhynchobatus Australiae) - photo by Yon Soponwit |
Conservation Status: A Species Under Threat
Guitarfish face numerous threats, including overfishing for their meat and fins, habitat destruction from coastal development, and bycatch in commercial fisheries. Many species are now classified as vulnerable or endangered.
For instance, the bowmouth guitarfish is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.
Beside the bycatch that makes up its share of damage, Guitarfish are hunted down for their large fins by finning vessels as well as for their distinctive thorns. Those sharp, shark teeth looking spines along their backs—have become sought-after items embedded into jewelry. Some believed they provide the wearer with protective powers. This usage also contributes to the species' decline, as these critically endangered creatures face increased exploitation for both their fins and these unique adornments.
Conservation efforts include establishing marine protected areas, enforcing sustainable fishing practices, and raising public awareness about their ecological importance.
For instance, the bowmouth guitarfish is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.
Beside the bycatch that makes up its share of damage, Guitarfish are hunted down for their large fins by finning vessels as well as for their distinctive thorns. Those sharp, shark teeth looking spines along their backs—have become sought-after items embedded into jewelry. Some believed they provide the wearer with protective powers. This usage also contributes to the species' decline, as these critically endangered creatures face increased exploitation for both their fins and these unique adornments.
Conservation efforts include establishing marine protected areas, enforcing sustainable fishing practices, and raising public awareness about their ecological importance.
 Bowmouth guitarfish thorns are use in Thai traditional jewellery - Photo by: Shin Sirachai Arunrugstichai |  They are also fished for their valuable fins and by mistake in large nets. Photo by : Shin Sirachai Arunrugstichai |
Fun Facts About Guitarfish
Bowmouth guitar fish coming curiously to check us out at the Burma banks
Where can you see Guitarfish
- Targeted by Shark Finning: The large fins of bowmouth guitarfish make them highly vulnerable to the shark finning industry, which is a significant contributor to their critically endangered status.
From By-Catch to Delicacy: Once discarded as a worthless by-catch species, shovelnose guitarfish are now prized for their meat, which is considered a delicacy in many regions. - Mud Skates: Giant guitarfish are sometimes called "mud skates" due to their preference for residing in muddy or sandy habitats. These areas provide both camouflage and an abundance of prey.
- Monogamous Mating Habits: Shovelnose guitarfish typically form monogamous pairs during breeding season. Reproducing annually, they can give birth to as many as 30 live pups.
- Hunting with Sensors: Shovelnose guitarfish rely on specialized sensors, not their eyesight, to detect changes in water pressure. This allows them to effectively hunt in low-visibility conditions.
- A Rare Encounter: With their dwindling numbers, spotting a bowmouth guitarfish is a privilege few divers experience. If you're lucky enough to come across one, make sure to be camera ready!
| Guitarfish inhabit the warm, shallow waters of tropical and subtropical seas. They prefer sandy or muddy seabeds where they can feed and burrow. The bowmouth guitarfish, has first been spotted in Western Rock, in the South of Mergui Archipelago and then the Burma banks. On one memorable dive at the Burma Banks, a bowmouth guitarfish swam close to inspect our group, we were possibly the first divers it had ever encountered! A group of Giant guitarsharks has settled down for a while around Koh Bon pinnacle and Surin islands. |
 Shovel nose guitar fish - Black Rock | These shovelnose rays (Rhinobatos ranongensis) were spotted by hundreds on the deeper parts of Black Rock, north of Mergui Archipelago, it was a carpet of them in the depths around the dive site. They like colder water and often show up when water temperature drop. These rays camouflage themselves so well by burrowing into the sandy seabed, it took us a while to spot one and then we saw so many!!! |
This region of the Andaman Sea is home to a wide variety of ray species, including several species of guitarfish.
Click this link if you want to know more about Marine life we see in Burma.
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Click this link if you want to know more about Marine life we see in Burma.
Or below for more details about our diving expeditions...
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