Zapteryx exasperata

Banded guitarfish | Striped Guitarfish | Prickly Skate | Mottled Guitarfish
Zapteryx exasperata
Zapteryx exasperata, Coiba, Panama, Photo: Graham Edgar
Zapteryx exasperata
Zapteryx exasperata, San Diego, CA, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
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Zapteryx exasperata
Zapteryx exasperata

Similar Species

Same Genus

Distribution

Tropical Eastern Pacific


Description

Broad disc almost as wide as it is long, row of short spines running along mid back, mottled tan and dark brown back forming indistinct dark bands, often with a symmetrical pattern of yellow spots on disc. Relatively docile ray, easily approached by divers.


Information

Max Size: 97 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 14.8-31°C

Depth: 1-200m

Habitat Generalization Index: N/A

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.


Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Data Deficient

Occurrence: Widespread (100% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Solitary (1 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.


Edit by: Joe Shields