Rhynchobatus
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Rhynchobatus Temporal range: Lower Eocene–Recent |
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| Giant guitarfish (R. djiddensis) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Order: | Rajiformes |
| Family: |
Rhynchobatidae Garman, 1913 |
| Genus: |
Rhynchobatus J. P. Müller & Henle, 1837 |
| Type species | |
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Rhinobatus laevis Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801 |
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Rhynchobatus is a group of rays commonly known as wedgefishes, and the sole genus in the family Rhynchobatidae. They are found in the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific with a single species (R. luebberti) in the eastern Atlantic. All species in this genus are assessed as Vulnerable or Endangered by IUCN.
The species are superficially similar and have often been confused. The various species can generally be separated by a combination of snout shape, vertebral count and exact colour (distribution of white spots, and presence/absence of a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin). The largest species can reach about 3 m (9.8 ft) and are among the largest species of rajiforms, but the smallest only reach around half that size.
There are currently seven recognized species in this genus: In the past all the Indo-Pacific species have been confused with R. djiddensis, which as presently defined is restricted to the western Indian Ocean.
An additional species is known, the roughnose wedgefish (Rhynchobatus sp. nov. A or 1), but it is still undescribed.
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