The false shark ray (Rhynchorhina mauritaniensis) is a species of fish in the Rhinidae family and the only species in the genus Rhynchorhina.[1] This rare ray is only known from shallow coastal Atlantic waters in Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania.[1] [2] [3]
The upperparts of the false shark ray are greyish or greenish-brown and densely covered in white spots.[2] The largest known reliably measured specimen was 2.24m (07.35feet) long, but individuals about 2.75abbr=onNaNabbr=on have been seen.[1] Overall it resembles the African wedgefish (Rhynchobatus luebberti) found in the same region, but it has a blunt rounded snout somewhat like the shark ray or bowmouth guitarfish (Rhina ancylostoma) of the Indo-Pacific. The genus name Rhynchorhina (Rhyncho+rhina) is a reference to this "mix" of features.[1]
Although long known by the local Imraguen people, the first record confirmed by scientists was in 1998 and it only received its species description in 2016.[1]
Very little is known about the behavior of the false shark ray, but a 2m (07feet) female caught in February had ripe ovocytes and shrimp in the stomach, while another had moray eels in the stomach.[1]