Rhinobatos irvinei
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Rhinobatos irvinei faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive fishing pressure across its West African range. The species is particularly vulnerable to bottom trawling and artisanal fishing operations that target shallow coastal waters where it feeds and reproduces. Its slow reproductive rate, typical of rays and guitarfish, makes population recovery extremely difficult once numbers decline.
Habitat
This guitarfish inhabits shallow coastal waters, sandy bottoms, and estuarine environments along the West African coast. It typically occurs in depths ranging from nearshore waters to approximately 100 meters, preferring areas with soft substrates where it can bury itself and hunt for benthic prey.
