Family : Rhinobatidae (Guitarfishes) , subfamily: Rhinobatinae
Order : Rajiformes  (skates and rays)
Class : Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays)
Fishbase Name : Giant shovelnose ray
Fish Name : Glaucostegus typus
Max size : 270 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 9909)
Environment : demersal ; depth range 0 - 100 m
Climate : tropical; 24°N - 32°S
Global Importance : fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: Thailand to New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, south to Australia. Records from the south coast of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar need confirmation.
Diagnosis :
Biology : Occurs inshore and offshore, from the intertidal to offshore continental and insular shelves (Ref. 9909). Adults are found offshore waters while young individuals are found inshore on sand flats, around atolls, and in mangrove swamps (Ref. 6871). Feeds on shellfish (Ref. 9909). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Reported to live and breed permanently in fresh water (Ref. 6871). Probably the major commercial guitarfish in the Western Central Pacific (Ref. 9909). Caught regularly by demersal tangle net fisheries operating throughout the area. Utilized for its meat, fins (both very high value), skin and cartilage (Ref.58048). Reported to attain a maximum length of 4 m (Ref. 58784)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless , Michael, S.W.. 1993
Coordinator : McEachran, John
Main Ref : Last, P.R. and J.D. Stevens. 1994. (Ref. 6871)

India country information
Common Names : Bennet's shovelnose guitarfish
Status : questionable
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses