guitarfish

Sharklike ray that lives in the shallow waters of tropical seas. Unlike rays, which swim by flapping their pectoral fins, it swims like a shark by lashing its long, thick muscular tail. Guitarfish tend to be small, though one species can reach 2 m/6.6 ft in length.

Most species are ovoviparous (the fertilized egg develops inside the mother). Guitarfish have well developed dorsal and caudal fins. There are about 45 species of guitarfish: the shovelnose guitarfish Rhinobatus productus is an example.

Classification Guitarfish are in the family Rhinobatidae, order Rajiformes, subclass Elasmobranchii, class Chondrichthyes.