Acroteriobatus leucospilus, the grayspotted guitarfish, is a species of guitarfish of the family Rhinobatidae, found along the coast of Madagascar, South Africa, Mozambique, and Tanzania.[1][2] It has undergone a reduction in population of at least 50% over the past 15 years due to the alarming rate of overfishing and harvesting.[1]
| Grayspotted guitarfish | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Order: | Rhinopristiformes |
| Family: | Rhinobatidae |
| Genus: | Acroteriobatus |
| Species: | A. leucospilus
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| Binomial name | |
| Acroteriobatus leucospilus (Norman, 1926)
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| Range of Greyspotted guitarfish | |
| Synonyms | |
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Rhinobatos leucospilus Norman, 1926 | |
Description
editThe characteristics of grayspotted guitarfish are the presence of elongated bluish-gray spots on snout, numerous small bluish spots on pectoral, pelvic, dorsal, and caudal fins, white ventral surface, white or stripped blue-brownish lateral tail folds, and 37 to 41 nasal lamellae counted.[2] Its reproduction system is ovoviviparous and the maximum length is 96 cm (female specimens).[2][1]
Habitat and distribution
editGrayspotted guitarfish inhabits the inshore area to a depth of 100 m (328 ft).[2]
The coastal areas of its geographic range is known for heavy fishing pressure. This guitarfish is often captured by trawl and gillnet fisheries operating across its habitat. The meat are sold locally and the fins are exported to Asia.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Pollom, R.; Bennett, R.; Fernando, S.; Gledhill, K.; Kuguru, B. & Sink, K. (2019). "Acroteriobatus leucospilus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T161555A124505883. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T161555A124505883.en. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d Weigmann, S., D.A. Ebert, B. Séret (2021). "Resolution of the Acroteriobatus leucospilus species complex, with a redescription of A. leucospilus (Norman, 1926) and descriptions of two new western Indian Ocean species of Acroteriobatus (Rhinopristiformes, Rhinobatidae)" (PDF). Marine Biodiversity. 51 (58). doi:10.1007/s12526-021-01208-6. S2CID 237695901.
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