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Lesser Guitarfish

Acroteriobatus annulatus

A slender sandshark of Cape and KZN surf zones, flattened in front with a shark-like tail behind.

Also known as guitarfish(lesser), rhinobatos annulatus, sand shark

Lesser Guitarfish
Photo: Christopher Caine · CC BY-NC 4.0
Typical size
Commonly 60-100 cm
Habitat
Surf zone and shallow sandy bays
Depth
Shallows to about 100 m

The lesser guitarfish, widely known as the sandshark, has a flattened, wedge-shaped front and a slender pointed snout, blending into a firm shark-like body and tail. It is sandy-brown to grey above and pale below, camouflaged against the seabed it lies on.

A South African inshore species, it is common in the surf zone and shallow sandy bays from the Western Cape around to KwaZulu-Natal, where it lies buried in sand and feeds on crabs, worms and small fish. Frequently caught by surf and beach anglers, it is harmless if handled with care and should be returned quickly to the water, as guitarfishes are slow to reproduce and easily depleted.