Omn Guitarfish

This small species has a wedge-shaped disc, is moderately elongate and with a narrow, triangular snout; anterior nasal flaps extending well across internasal space and are barely separated; dorsal surface with dense pattern of white ocelli; disc is rather thin, its length 1.3-1.4 times its width; anterior margins undulate, moderately concave before snout tip; outer corner of pectoral fins broadly rounded; snout angle ca. 64°; large eye, much larger than spiracles, orbit length 3.1-3.7 in preorbital length, 1.1-1.4 in interorbital space; rostral ridges well separated at the base; spiracle with 2 fleshy folds, inner fold rudimentary; rather large nostrils, oblique, length 1.2-1.3 times internasal space, anterior nasal flaps barely separated; velvety skin, entirely covered with minute denticles, no thorns nor thornlets, some barely enlarged denticles on preorbit and in median row between nape and first dorsal fin; tail 1.3-1.4 times longer than disc; tall dorsal fins widely spaced, interspace 2.7-3.2 times base length of first dorsal fin; apices angular to narrowly rounded; pectoral fin radials 67-72; total vertebral centra 185-188 (Ref. 114953).

Apparently a benthic species on inner continental shelf. Unknown life history. Maturity size unknown but a male was found mature at 50 cm TL (Ref. 114953).

Acroteriobatus omanensis, the Oman guitarfish, is a type of guitarfish of the family Rhinobatidae found in Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. There has only been a handful of specimens discovered in fish landings in Muscat. Therefore, its population and potential threats are not specifically known to scientists.