Shovelnose Shark Description

The shovelnose shark -- scientifically called Rhinobatos productus -- goes by several nicknames, including shovelnose guitarfish and bull shark. In actuality, however, the species is a type of ray, not a type of shark. The strange-looking critters, found mostly in the Pacific Ocean, get their name from their flat, shovel-shaped heads.

  1. Appearance

    • Because of the small ray's dorsal fin, many people mistake the scary-looking shovelnose guitarfish for a shark. The creatures, which have a sandy brown coloring that allows them to hide near the ocean's floor, can grow to around 4 feet in length for males and about 4.5 feet for females when mature; they weigh around 40 lb. Their underbellies are white. The shovelnose guitarfish is also characterized by its long, thin tail.

    Food

    • Shovelnose guitarfish tend to feed on benthic invertebrates, including worms, shrimp, crabs and amphipods. Shovelnose guitarfish are equipped with strong jaws that allow them to crush clamshells. Mature shovelnose guitarfish prefer dining on bony fish, and quite often such shovelnoses shallowly bury themselves in the ocean floor so they can ambush unsuspecting prey. Their mouth is located on its underside, like many other ray types, allowing them to snap up bottom dwellers. Shovelnose guitarfish are most active at night.

    Behavior

    • Despite their looks, shovelnose sharks are not known to attack humans; such guitarfish are fairly harmless, thanks to their lack of stinger and unusual teeth pattern, which makes it unable to provide much of a threatening bite on a human. They breed near Southern California and Baja California during the summer months; a pregnancy takes around 12 months. Male guitarfish typically live to 11 years of age, while females usually make it to 16 years.

    Location

    • Shovelnose sharks are often found near the sandy bottom of the Pacific Ocean, mostly between the Gulf of California and the oceans off the coast of San Francisco. Such guitarfish are not usually found north of the Monterey Bay. Most commonly, fishermen find them off the coast of Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach, Los Angeles and San Diego -- especially during the fall. Shovelnose sharks do not normally go deeper than 50 feet.