The Atlantic guitarfish (Pseudobatos lentiginosus) is a fascinating marine creature that blurs the line between sharks and rays. With its guitar-shaped body and a knack for stealthy ambushes, this unique species has captured the attention of ocean enthusiasts. In this post, we’ll dive into the world of the Atlantic guitarfish, exploring its distinctive features, behaviors, and the challenges it faces in the wild.

Click the image below to see the Mystic Aquarium guitarfish swimming!

Animal Fast Facts

• Name Origins: Guitarfish get their name from their guitar-shaped bodies and long, pointed snouts. Their unique shape is a blend between a shark and a ray, giving them a distinct look.
• Family Ties: Despite their shark-like appearance, guitarfish are actually rays. Their thick tails and swimming style can make them resemble sharks, but they belong to the ray family.
• Masters of Stealth: These fish are expert ambush predators, often burying themselves in sandy or muddy seabeds. They leave only their eyes and spiracles visible, perfectly blending in with their environment to surprise their prey.

Habitat

The Atlantic guitarfish inhabits the western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to the northern Gulf of Mexico and Yucatán, Mexico. Predominantly found in tropical coastal waters, they can also be seen in estuaries and freshwater habitats.

Physical Description

The Atlantic guitarfish has a distinctive look that blends features of both sharks and rays. Its body is flattened, with broad pectoral fins extending from its head, forming a triangular or heart-shaped disc. The thick tail ends in a well-developed fin, giving the fish its “guitar-like” silhouette. Unlike some related species, it has no spine on its tail. Its snout is pointed, with clear patches on either side.

 The upper surface varies from ashy gray to deep brown, often dotted with small whitish spots. The underside is pale, typically yellowish white, with fins slightly darker than the rest of the body. The Atlantic guitarfish is one of the smaller species, reaching a total length of approximately 30 inches (75 cm).

Lifespan

Atlantic guitarfish live for about 10 years.

Behavior & Diet

Atlantic guitarfish are bottom dwellers, often burying themselves in sand or mud. Nocturnal by nature, they become more active at night to hunt. Though generally solitary, they may sometimes be found in small groups.

They swim like sharks, moving their long tails from side to side, and use their pectoral fins to steer and accelerate, similar to rays. Unlike most fish, they swim at a positive angle, with their heads slightly higher than their tails.

As opportunistic feeders, Atlantic guitarfish primarily prey on small fish, crustaceans like shrimp and crabs, and mollusks. They use their flattened bodies to bury themselves in the sand, ambushing prey with their keen sense of smell and electroreception. Their mouths are located underneath their heads, ideal for suction-feeding on prey hidden in the sand.

Reproduction

Atlantic guitarfish reproduce through internal fertilization, with females giving birth to live young. The pups are fully developed at birth and are about 8 inches (20 cm) long. Each litter can have up to six pups. This species uses a reproductive method called aplacental viviparity, where embryos develop inside the mother and are born live without a placental connection.

Conservation Status

The Atlantic guitarfish is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. This species faces threats from habitat loss and degradation due to coastal development and oil exploration. It is also at risk of being caught as bycatch by commercial fisheries.