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Glaucostegus younholeei

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Bangladeshi guitarfish
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Rhinopristiformes
Family: Glaucostegidae
Genus: Glaucostegus
Species:
G. younholeei
Binomial name
Glaucostegus younholeei
Habib & Islam, 2021

Glaucostegus younholeei, the Bangladeshi guitarfish, is a type of guitarfish of the family Glaucostegidae found in the northern Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh.[2][1] This species is recorded from 13 specimens discovered in a fish landing center in Cox's Bazar.[2] It is currently witnessing a population decline of more than 80 percent due to high exploitation rate.[1][2]

Description

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The Bangladeshi guitarfish can be differentiated from its congeners from these characteristics: long and narrow blunt pointed snout, broad oblique nostrils with the narrow anterior opening, brownish or greyish body color with a narrow wedge-shaped disc, cranium margin sharply demarcated before eyes, rostral ridges almost joined along their entire length, relatively longer tail.[2] The maximum length of this species is only around 93 cm (37 in).[2]

Habitat and distribution

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This guitarfish possibly inhabits shallow coastal and continental shelf waters of less than 120 m (394 ft).[2] The specific geographic distribution range can not fully determined since it has only been recorded from one landing site in Bangladesh.[2][1] However, there are some presumptions that Bangladeshi guitarfish may be more wide-ranging and live in the adjacent areas, including Andaman Sea and Strait of Malacca.[2]

Giant guitarfish, especially the smaller species (including the Bangladeshi guitarfish), is locally captured for international fin and meat trade.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Kyne, P.M.; Haque, A.B.; Charles, R. & Jabado, R.W. (2022). "Glaucostegus younholeei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T214418407A214418413. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T214418407A214418413.en. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Habib, K.A. & Islam, M.J. (2021). "Description of a new species of giant guitarfish, Glaucostegus younholeei sp. nov. (Rhinopristiformes: Glaucostegidae) from the northern Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh". Zootaxa. 4995 (1): 129–146.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)