Pseudobatos buthi Rutledge, 2019
Spadenose guitarfish

Family:  Rhinobatidae (Guitarfishes)
Max. size:  68.51 cm TL (female)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 2 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California, Mexico.
Diagnosis:  This species is distinguished from P. glaucostigmus in having a nasal tassel, uniform coloration, a slightly narrower maximum disc width and disc width at anterior orbit, longer head, longer snout, shorter anterior nasal flap, smaller nostril length, and a smaller body width at first dorsal-fin origin; differs from P. leucorhynchus in having a nasal tassel, brown rostrum, shorter distance from snout to first dorsal-fin origin, shorter distance from snout to lower caudal-fin origin, slightly narrower disc width at anterior orbit, a narrower body at first dorsal-fin origin, shorter anterior nasal flap base length, and shorter nostril length. It is most similar to P. productus but differs in having a narrower disc width 30-35% (vs. 36-38% TL range), shorter distance from nostril to disc margin 2.8-4.0% (vs. 4.2-5.2% TL range), narrower disc width at anterior orbit 12-19% (vs. 20-22% TL range), narrower tip of snout width 3% (vs. 4-6% TL average), and no prominent thorns as a juvenile (Ref. 125697).
Biology:  This species is found on shallow coastal regions of the Gulf of California to at least two meters depth. The smallest adult 48.0 cm TL (Ref. 125697).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 12 February 2021 (A2d) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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