Biology

Very little is known about the biology of the bowmouth guitarfish (1). This species feeds mainly on crustaceans and mollusks on the sea bed (2), catching them by restraining the prey against the sea bottom using its large head and pectoral fins, and then with a series of short sharp thrusts, moving the prey into its mouth (3). The bowmouth guitarfish is ovoviviparous, with females typically giving birth to four live young that have hatched within the uterus (2) (5). Like other sharks and rays, this species is thought to have a late onset of sexual maturity and slow reproductive rate (2).