Shovelnose guitarfish
(Pseudobatos productus)
Image source: Brenna Green | inaturalist.org
General data
The shovelnose guitarfish, Pseudobatos productus, is a ray in the family Rhinobatidae.
It becomes mature at an estimated seven to eight years old. Males are between 90–100 cm (35–39 in) long, while females are around 99 cm (39 in) at that age.
The ray can live up to 11 years, and full-grown sizes are around 120 cm (47 in) for males, and females reach 137 cm (54 in).
They range from central California south to the Gulf of California.
Morphological and genetic variations occur in the mitochondrial DNA in those found in the Gulf of California, evidencing their isolation from the rest. Because of this, the conservation of this species must be carefully managed to preserve the biological diversity. The shovelnose is considered to be a primitively developed ray, with many features of both sharks and rays.
Pseudobatos productus has magnetic particles in its vestibular receptors, and the magnetic particles are believed to be exogenous in origin. The magnetic particles\\\' spatial arrangement may aid in the sensitivity of the receptors to movements.
The visual system of the shovelnose is more extensive and developed than other Elasmobranchii, with multiple large projections connecting to the brain. Almost the entire dorsal and ventral hypothalamus is connected to the visual system, but still maintains a similar lack of differentiation as with sharks.
