At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The bowmouth guitarfish is a striking, ridge-backed ray that looks part-shark, part-ray. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Its large fins are highly valued in the fin trade.
Range & habitat
Coastal waters of the Indo-West Pacific.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Overfishing for fins and meat
- Bycatch
- Habitat loss
Why it matters
A shark-like ray prized for its fins, the bowmouth guitarfish is among the most threatened of all sharks and rays and a priority for coastal conservation.
Sources
Sources for Bowmouth Guitarfish
- IUCN Red List — look up Bowmouth Guitarfish (authoritative status)
- FishBase
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the bowmouth guitarfish a shark or a ray?
It is a ray, but with a shark-like body and tall fins it looks like a cross between the two — sometimes called a 'shark ray'. Its fins are highly valued, driving overfishing.
Why is the bowmouth guitarfish Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite overfishing for fins and meat, bycatch, and habitat loss. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: