CR

Smoothback Guitarfish

Rhinobatos lionotus

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Rhinobatos lionotus 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 for camouflage and feeding.

Marine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryAwareness & communicationsCompliance and enforcement

Other threatened species in RHINOBATIDAE

VU

Gorgona Guitarfish

Pseudobatos prahli

Declining
VU

Speckled Guitarfish

Pseudobatos glaucostigmus

Declining
EN

Greyspot Guitarfish

Acroteriobatus leucospilus

Declining
VU

Ranong Guitarfish

Rhinobatos ranongensis

Declining

Threatened in Bangladesh

Long-nosed CrocodileCR

Long-nosed Crocodile

Gavialis gangeticus

Increasing
Capped LangurVU

Capped Langur

Trachypithecus pileatus

Declining
Bangladeshi GuitarfishCR

Bangladeshi Guitarfish

Glaucostegus younholeei

Declining
Humped BladderwortCR

Humped Bladderwort

Utricularia gibba

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Smoothback Guitarfish classified as Critically Endangered?
Smoothback 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. Rhinobatos lionotus 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 Smoothback Guitarfish live?
Smoothback Guitarfish occurs in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar (Burma), Oman, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Smoothback Guitarfish?
The main threats to Smoothback Guitarfish are 5.3, 5.4, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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