The Bottlenose Wedgefish, Whitespotted Guitarfish, Fiddler, Giant Guitarfish, Sandshark, Shovelnose Shark, Whitespot Ray, Whitespot Shovelnose Ray, White-spotted Guitarfish, White-spotted Shovelnose Ray, White-spotted Shovelnosed Guitarfish, White-spotted Shovelnosed Ray, White-spotted Shovelnose-ray, Whitespotted Wedgefish, White-spotted Wedgefish, scientifically known as Rhynchobatus australiae, is a species of ray found in the waters of the Indo-Pacific region. It is a distinctive fish with a flattened, guitar-shaped body and a prominent, shovel-like snout.
Description & Characteristics
The White-spotted Wedgefish Rhynchobatus australiae is easily recognizable with its characteristic white spots scattered across its dorsal surface. These spots are usually more prominent in juveniles and can fade with age. It possesses a broad, flattened body that resembles a guitar, giving rise to several of its common names. The snout is long and pointed, with a shovel-like appearance that it uses to dig into the sandy seabed for prey. The fish can grow to a maximum size of 124.0 cm in length.
Habitat and Occurrence
The White-spotted Wedgefish Rhynchobatus australiae is found in a variety of marine zones, typically inhabiting coastal waters and inshore reefs. It prefers sandy or muddy bottoms and can be found at depths ranging from the surface to 60.0 meters. This species is distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific region, including the waters of Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Taxonomy
The White-spotted Wedgefish Rhynchobatus australiae is classified as follows: – Class: Elasmobranchii – Order: Rhinopristiformes – Family: Rhinidae
Feeding
The White-spotted Wedgefish Rhynchobatus australiae is a predatory fish that feeds primarily on a diet of benthic organisms, including clams, crustaceans, fish (small fishes), snails, and zoobenthos. It uses its shovel-like snout to dig into the sandy seabed for prey.
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