Common shovelnose ray | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Order: | Rajiformes |
Family: | Rhinobatidae |
Genus: | Glaucostegus |
Species: | G. typus |
Binomial name | |
Glaucostegus typus (Anonymous, referred to E. T. Bennett, 1830) |
The common shovelnose ray, giant shovelnose ray or giant guitarfish (Glaucostegus typus) is a species of fish in the Rhinobatidae family found in the central Indo-Pacific, ranging from India to the East China Sea, Solomon Islands and northern Australia. It is found in shallow coastal areas to a depth of at least 100 m (330 ft), including mangrove, estuaries and reportedly also in freshwaters. It reaches up to 2.7 m (8.9 ft) in length, and is greyish-brown to yellowish-brown above with a paler snout.
This species has been tested for colour vision using choice experiments that control for brightness. It was the first rigorous behvioural evidence for colour vision in any elasmobranch.