Bowmouth Guitarfish

The bowmouth guitarfish, or shark ray, is an unmistakable giant that looks part ray, part shark: a broad, rounded, bow-shaped snout, a flattened front with large pectoral fins, and a powerful shark-like body and tail behind. Bony ridges of thorns run over the eyes and along the back, and the grey body is scattered with pale spots.

It occurs along the KwaZulu-Natal coast over sandy and rubble bottoms near reefs, where it feeds on crabs, shellfish and other bottom prey crushed with pavement-like teeth. Large but not aggressive, it is a memorable sight for divers; it is globally threatened and protected in many areas, so any encounter should be observed at a respectful distance and any accidental catch released.