Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 100 m (Ref. 5578). Subtropical; - 32°S
Western Indian Ocean: southern Mozambique to off central Transkei, South Africa (Ref. 5578, 11228).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 120 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5578)
Short description
Morphology | Morphometrics
A guitarfish with a broad, wedge-shaped snout and pectoral disc (Ref. 5578). Brown above, with large blue-grey spots on back and pectoral fins and symmetrical blue-grey bands on snout; few dark brown spots on back; white below (Ref. 5578).
Found inshore from the surf line to a depth of 100 m (Ref. 5578, 11228). Common length 92-96 cm TL; males and females mature at about 56 cm TL and birth size ca. 25 cm TL (Ref. 114953). Feeds on bivalves, gastropods, shrimps, crabs and small bony fishes (Ref. 5578). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Flesh esteemed (Ref. 3919).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures (Ref. 50449). Bears 2 to 4 young (Ref. 5578).
van der Elst, R., 1981. A guide to the common sea fishes of southern Africa. C. Struik, Cape Town. 367 p. (Ref. 3670)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 120744)
CITES (Ref. 118484)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes
More information
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5039 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00331 (0.00181 - 0.00606), b=3.09 (2.92 - 3.26), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.7 ±0.60 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=2).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): High vulnerability (64 of 100) .