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Quick answer
The common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) is a shark-ray hybrid shape hunted on Mediterranean and Atlantic sands. Adults reach 1 m and 7 kg, and are listed Critically Endangered.
Top questions about the Common Guitarfish
Common Guitarfish facts at a glance
- Weight 6 kg
- Length 1 m
- Top speed 15 km/h
- Lifespan 10 years
| Scientific name | Rhinobatos rhinobatos |
|---|---|
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Habitat | Sandy coastal shallows |
| Lifespan | 8–12 years |
| Weight | 4–8 kg |
| Top speed | up to 15 km/h |
| Conservation status | Critically Endangered (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Chondrichthyes |
| Order | Rhinopristiformes |
| Family | Rhinobatidae |
| Genus | Rhinobatos |
Where it lives
The common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) is native to Coastal Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic. — recorded across Europe, Africa, Asia in this guide’s range summary.
For occurrence records, see GBIF species search and sources below.
How big is a common guitarfish?
An adult common guitarfish measures 1 m long — about 58% of the height of an average adult person (1.73 m) — and weighs around 6.0 kg, about 9% of an average adult’s body weight (70 kg).
Length vs an average adult’s height (to scale)
What is a group of common guitarfish called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Common Guitarfish is called a school.
Baby name
A baby Common Guitarfish is called a pup.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
Half shark, half ray
A ray-like flattened front with shark-like tail and dorsal fins. Eyes on top scan for prey while camouflaged against sand.
Crabs, worms, and small fish
Bottom-dwelling invertebrates and fish are crushed or speared on sandy shallows. Slow reproduction makes populations fragile.
Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic
Coastal sands from the Bay of Biscay into the Mediterranean and along West Africa. Shallow habitat overlaps trawl fisheries.
Critically Endangered on the sand
IUCN lists common guitarfish Critically Endangered. Bottom trawling and targeted harvest for meat devastated numbers across its range.
Explore the Common Guitarfish
Related Fishs
Collections
Range & geography
Conservation status of the Common Guitarfish
The common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Critically Endangered (CR) is the highest-risk category the IUCN Red List assigns to a wild species before Extinct in the Wild. It means a species faces an extremely high probability of extinction — usually because its population has collapsed, its range has shrunk drastically, or very few mature individuals remain. Species at this level typically depend on active conservation to survive.
Main threats to the common guitarfish
- Entanglement in trawls and gillnets
- Habitat loss in coastal shallows
- Demand for fins and meat
- Slow reproduction in many populations
Common Guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) was most recently assessed for the IUCN Red List in 2019. Look up on the IUCN Red List .
Frequently asked questions about the Common Guitarfish
Is a guitarfish a shark or a ray?
It is a rhinobatid — related to rays with a shark-like tail; common name reflects the guitar outline.
Why is the common guitarfish Critically Endangered?
Intense bottom trawling and coastal fishing removed most individuals from sandy habitat.
Where do guitarfish live?
Sandy coastal shallows of the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic.
What do guitarfish eat?
Crabs, worms, molluscs, and small fish dug from the seabed.
Can guitarfish sting?
They lack the venomous barb of stingrays; defence relies on camouflage and flight.
What is a group of common guitarfish called?
A group of Common Guitarfish is called a school.
What is a baby common guitarfish called?
A baby Common Guitarfish is called a pup.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Common Guitarfish:
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IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Critically Endangered) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Rhinobatos rhinobatos, most recently assessed in 2019.
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iNaturalist — observations & photos
Search citizen-science observations and community IDs for Rhinobatos rhinobatos. Useful for range checks and recent sightings — not a substitute for formal Red List status.
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GBIF — occurrence data
Global Biodiversity Information Facility species search for Rhinobatos rhinobatos. Explore published occurrence records used in range research.
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How we research, source, review, and update every guide for accuracy.
