Banded Guitarfish
Zapteryx exasperata
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassElasmobranchii
- OrderRhinopristiformes (Shovelnose Rays)
- FamilyRhinobatidae (Guitarfishes)
- GenusZapteryx
- SpeciesZapteryx exasperata (Banded Guitarfish)
About the Banded Guitarfish
The banded guitarfish, mottled guitarfish, prickly skate or striped guitarfish (Zapteryx exasperata) is a species of fish in the Trygonorrhinidae family. Originally Z. exasperata was placed in the Rhinobatidae family, however recent mitochondrial DNA analysis shows their placement into the new family of Trygonorrhinidae. They are found from shallow water to a depth of 200 m (660 ft) in the East Pacific from California, United States, to Mazatlan, Mexico, including the Gulf of California. The species has also been recorded further south (as far as Peru), but this likely involves its close relative, the southern banded guitarfish (Z. xyster).
Banded guitarfish have diamond-shaped bodies that, as their name suggests, resemble guitars. Their coloration is dark gray to sandy brown with characteristic black or dark brown banding along the back. They generally have large eyes with a short, rounded snout. The tail is thick from the base of the disc to its rounded caudal fin and is equal or shorter in length to its disc. Banded guitarfish have a rough textured skin caused by prickles or tiny spikes throughout the dorsal surface with a line of large spikes in the middle... Wikipedia →
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cabo Pulmo National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Banded Guitarfish in Cabo Pulmo National Park?
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Banded Guitarfish sighting in Cabo Pulmo National Park, based on 16 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Banded Guitarfish in Cabo Pulmo National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Banded Guitarfish in Cabo Pulmo National Park in our monthly data.