Common names
Guitarra bandeada, Guitarra con bandas, Guitarra rayada, Poisson-guitare rayé, Banded guitarfish, Guitarfish, Mottled guitarfish, Prickly skate, Striped guitarfish

Short Description
Spiral valve count: 8-10. Broad disc is about as wide as it is long; dorsal surface covered with numerous, small to large, scattered, stellate prickles; a single median row of enlarged thorns running along the mid-back; a broad, short snout; small, blunt, pebble like teeth; a dorsal fin that originates closer to the pelvic fin bases than to the caudal fin origin; a thick tail and a moderately large, rounded caudal fin without a distinct lower lobe. Tooth count: 60-75/60-75. Coloration: The dorsal surface is sandy brown to dark gray, with several prominent black bars, and lighter below with dark spots on the posterior edge of the pectoral fins.

Distribution
Eastern Pacific: southern California, USA to Peru. Source: www.gbif.org

Human uses
fisheries: minor commercial; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

Biology
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures [733]. During breeding season, male and female adult schools congregate in shallow areas of bays and lagoons (Ref. 51576). Parturition takes place three to four months after mating, with litters of 4 to 11 pups (Ref. 48844). Generally in rocky areas but may also be found on sandy bottoms (Ref. 37955). Reported from tide pools [1658]. Relatively docile, harmless rays that are easily approached by divers (Ref. 48844). Feeds mainly on mollusks and crustaceans (Ref. 37955). Mobile invertebrate feeder (Ref. 57615).

Size / Weight / Age
83.0 cm (male/unsexed; (Ref. 48844)); 97 cm (female)

Habitat
reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 200 m (Ref. 37955), usually 1 - 22 m [1658]

Remarks
shark-references Species-ID=7549;

Parasites (arranged by Jürgen Pollerspöck)
Monogenea

• Spinuris zapterygis Gomez Del Prado & Euzet, 1999 [7598] [23771] [26032]

Cestoda

• Pseudochristianella nudiscula Campbell & Beveridge, 2006 [10844] [23771]
• Pterobothrioides carvajali Campbell & Beveridge, 1997 [16112]

Trematoda

• Anaporrhutum euzeti Curran, Blend & Overstreet, 2003 [23771]

Hirudinea

• Austrobdella cairae Curran, Phillips, Overstreet, Benz & Henningsen, 2016 [24176]