Halavi Guitarfish
CR

Halavi Guitarfish

Glaucostegus halavi

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halavi_guitarfish

Overview

The halavi guitarfish is a critically endangered species of ray in the Glaucostegidae family. It is found in the Indo-West Pacific. It has only been recorded twice, in 1997 and 2004, in the levantine waters, the question of its permanent settlement in the Mediterranean Sea remains open. Its name is derived from the Arabic word حلاوي (halawi).

Glaucostegus halavi faces severe population declines primarily due to intensive fishing pressure across its range in the Western Indian Ocean. The species is particularly vulnerable to bottom trawling and gillnet fisheries that target demersal species in coastal waters. Habitat degradation from coastal development and pollution further compounds these pressures, while the species' slow reproductive rate limits its ability to recover from fishing mortality.

Threat summary

Habitat

This guitarfish inhabits shallow coastal waters, sandy and muddy bottoms, and continental shelf areas in the Western Indian Ocean. It typically occurs in depths ranging from nearshore waters to approximately 200 meters, preferring soft substrates where it can bury itself.

MARINE· majorMARINE· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryAwareness & communicationsLegislationCompliance and enforcement

Other threatened species in GLAUCOSTEGIDAE

Bangladeshi GuitarfishCR

Bangladeshi Guitarfish

Glaucostegus younholeei

Declining
Blackchin GuitarfishCR

Blackchin Guitarfish

Glaucostegus cemiculus

Declining
Giant GuitarfishCR

Giant Guitarfish

Glaucostegus typus

Declining
Clubnose GuitarfishCR

Clubnose Guitarfish

Glaucostegus thouin

Declining

Threatened in China

VU

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Declining
EN

Golden Vietnamese Cypress

Xanthocyparis vietnamensis

Declining
VU

Dragon Spruce

Picea asperata

Declining
VU

Likiang Spruce

Picea likiangensis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Halavi Guitarfish classified as Critically Endangered?
Halavi Guitarfish is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Glaucostegus halavi faces severe population declines primarily due to intensive fishing pressure across its range in the Western Indian Ocean. The species is particularly vulnerable to bottom trawling and gillnet fisheries that target demersal species in coastal waters. Habitat degradation from coastal development and pollution further compounds these pressures, while the species' slow reproductive rate limits its ability to recover from fishing mortality.
Where does Halavi Guitarfish live?
Halavi Guitarfish occurs in China, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Indonesia, and Israel (plus 11 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Halavi Guitarfish?
The main threats to Halavi Guitarfish are 5.3, 5.4, 7.3, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.