THE FINS UNITED INITIATIVE
  • About TFUI
    • TFUI Origins >
      • About TFUI Founder Melissa
      • TFUI Officers
    • Take a Bite
    • Get Involved
    • FAQ
  • Bite Blog
  • Education
    • The Sharks >
      • Shark Anatomy
    • The Skates & Rays
    • The Chimaeras
    • Why Environments Matter
    • The Threats
    • Open Access >
      • Behind the Fins: Interview series
      • Bite into Research
      • Shark Bites: Book Recommendations
      • Sustainable Seafood Apps
  • Fins United
    • Shark Party Ideas
    • Little Fins Nursery
    • Big Fins Reef
  • Contact

False Shark Ray

7/16/2018

 
"What the heck is a False Shark Ray?" you must be asking. To be honest, so were we! But Rhynchorhina mauritaniensis is a real animal - recently discovered in 2016!

If the scientific name gives any hint, they are found in the North-East Atlantic off of... you guessed it. Mauritania! A benthic species that gets up to at least 2.24 metres in total length (TL), they probably have a restricted range as the few specimens caught were done so in shallow water on a sandy shoal. They may have a similar diet  other wedgefish (invertebrates, crustaceans, small bony fish) but we just don't know yet.
​
Picture
Rhynchorhina mauritaniensis sp. nov., holotype MNHN 2003-610, female 2040 mm TL, Specimen freshly caught at Iwik on 6th Febrary 2003 (Photo B. Valadou)
​Usually a dark grey (or green-brown) color on top, their underbelly is a creamy color. They sort of remind me of whale sharks with the smattering of white dots throughout its body, almost looking like a constellation. A rounded, blunt snout makes it different from other wedgefish, and they have thorns on the ridges above their eyes, spiracles, shoulders, and the mid-line of their back. 

​The IUCN has not assessed this animal.

EVER HEARD OF THE ANIMAL?

GLOSSARY

  • Crustaceans: Group of animals with a hard exoskeleton, jointed legs and segmented body.
  • Invertebrates: Animals with no backbone (i.e. crustaceans, jellyfish, corals, sea anemones).
  • IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature.​​

SAY HELLO!

​YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Picture
BACK TO SCHOOL: SHARKS
Picture
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:GREY REEF SHARK
Picture
BROADNOSE WEDGEFISH

Comments are closed.

    Author

    TFUI Founder Melissa C. Marquez is author of all animal bios and "Behind the Fins" segments.
    ​
    A proud #LatinainSTEM, Marquez is a marine biologist who focuses on shark habitat use and movements; she is also a science communicator (follow her on Twitter) who focuses on diverse Chondrichthyan education and who focuses on the media coverage of sharks.
    You can learn more about her on her website.

    SEE MELISSA'S TEDx TALK HERE:

    Archives

    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Subscribe to The Fins United Initiative's monthly newsletter.

    SEARCH BY CATEGORIES

    Picture
    SHARKS
    Picture
    SKATES &
    ​RAYS
    Picture
    CHIMAERA

    READER FAVORITES

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM

    @finsunitedinitiative
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • About TFUI
    • TFUI Origins >
      • About TFUI Founder Melissa
      • TFUI Officers
    • Take a Bite
    • Get Involved
    • FAQ
  • Bite Blog
  • Education
    • The Sharks >
      • Shark Anatomy
    • The Skates & Rays
    • The Chimaeras
    • Why Environments Matter
    • The Threats
    • Open Access >
      • Behind the Fins: Interview series
      • Bite into Research
      • Shark Bites: Book Recommendations
      • Sustainable Seafood Apps
  • Fins United
    • Shark Party Ideas
    • Little Fins Nursery
    • Big Fins Reef
  • Contact