| Family: |
Glaucostegidae (Giant guitarfishes) |
| Max. size: |
270 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 100 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: Thailand to New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, south to Australia. Records from the south coast of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar need confirmation. |
| Diagnosis: |
|
| Biology: |
Occurs inshore and offshore, from the intertidal to offshore continental and insular shelves (Ref. 9909). Adults are found offshore waters while young individuals are found inshore on sand flats, around atolls, and in mangrove swamps (Ref. 6871). Feeds on shellfish, mainly on prawns and crabs (Ref. 9909, Ref. 114953). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Maturity size at 150-180 cm TL; born at 38-40 cm TL (Ref. 114953). Reported to live and breed permanently in fresh water (Ref. 6871). Probably the major commercial guitarfish in the Western Central Pacific (Ref. 9909). Caught regularly by demersal tangle net fisheries operating throughout the area. Utilized for its meat, fins (both very high value), skin and cartilage (Ref.58048). Reported to attain a maximum length of 4 m (Ref. 58784). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 03 December 2018 (A2bd) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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