Fish Most active at dawn and dusk

Blackchin Guitarfish

Glaucostegus cemiculus

iNaturalist Wikipedia

The ghost of the seabed, the Blackchin Guitarfish is a master of camouflage that bridges the gap between sharks and rays. Now critically endangered, this stunning 'rhino fish' is a rare prize for any coastal wildlife observer.

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0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Total length up to 2.4 metres (7.9 feet); commonly 1.5–2.0 metres (5–6.5 feet). Weights can reach 50 kg (110 lbs).

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Colors

Uniform sandy brown or yellowish-grey upper side; creamy white underside. A prominent blackish-brown spot is located on the underside of the snout.

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Key Features

Broadly triangular, pointed snout with a distinct black smudge underneath
Two large, triangular dorsal fins located well behind the pelvic fins
Flattened head and pectoral fins resembling a ray, with a thick, shark-like tail
Small, granular teeth arranged in pavement-like rows for crushing shells

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Most active at dawn and dusk

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Peak hours 5-8 AM, 6-9 PM

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Season May-September (when moving to shallower waters to breed)

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Diet A carnivorous bottom-feeder specializing in crustaceans (crabs and shrimp), mollusks, and small benthic fish like gobies.

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Habitat Coastal waters with sandy or muddy bottoms, typically in the intertidal zone down to 100 metres; also frequents brackish estuaries.

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Where Does the Blackchin Guitarfish Live?

Native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, the Blackchin Guitarfish is a coastal specialist of the Old World. Its core range extends from the northern shores of the Mediterranean, through the Strait of Gibraltar, and down the West African coastline as far south as Angola. While once common throughout the Mediterranean, its current stronghold is primarily within the warmer waters of the West African continental shelf.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

11 Countries

2.4M km² Range

Critically Endangered Conservation

SN Senegal Mauritania Gambia Guinea-Bissau Sierra Leone IT Italy ES Spain Turkey Tunisia Egypt Angola

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Blackchin Guitarfish is a patient bottom-dweller that spends much of its day partially submerged in sand or fine silt. This camouflage serves a dual purpose: it hides the fish from larger sharks and allows it to ambush unsuspecting crabs and small fish. While they appear lethargic, they are capable of sudden, powerful bursts of speed when startled or when striking at prey.

Socially, these fish are generally solitary but are known to congregate in shallow coastal lagoons and estuaries during the late spring and summer months for breeding. Unlike many other fish, they do not lay eggs in the open water; instead, they are ovoviviparous, giving birth to 4–10 live young after the embryos develop inside the mother. They are completely harmless to humans unless provoked, though their declining numbers mean encounters are becoming increasingly rare for coastal residents.

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Camera Tips

Capturing a Blackchin Guitarfish requires a specialized underwater approach, specifically using a benthic (bottom-mounted) camera system. Use a weighted housing or an action camera mounted to a heavy lead-weighted baseplate to ensure the current doesn't shift your frame. Position the lens as low as possible, ideally just 6-10 inches above the seabed, and tilt it slightly upward. This 'worm's eye view' is essential for seeing the distinctive black snout marking as the fish glides overhead or rests in the sand.

Strategic placement is better than luck; look for 'sand highways'—clear patches of sand located between seagrass beds or rocky outcrops. These are natural corridors for guitarfish. While they don't respond to traditional bird-style feeders, you can use an 'attractor' by securing a mesh bag filled with crushed crabs or oily fish scraps (like sardines) about three feet in front of the camera. The scent will lure them into the frame without obscuring the view with a bulky bait box.

Because the Blackchin Guitarfish is most active during crepuscular hours (dawn and dusk), ensure your camera has high dynamic range (HDR) settings enabled to handle the shifting light filtering through the water. If recording at night, use infrared (IR) lighting rather than white light, as bright flashes can spook these sensitive elasmobranchs. Set your device to record 30-second video clips rather than stills; their movement is often the only way to distinguish them from the sandy background due to their incredible camouflage.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Blackchin Guitarfish.

Common Guitarfish

Smaller in size and lacks the distinctive black spot on the underside of the snout.

Clubnose Guitarfish

Features a more rounded, blunt snout and different dorsal fin positioning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Blackchin Guitarfish are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the dim light of dawn and dusk. During these times, they leave their buried resting spots to hunt for crustaceans along the seabed.

You can attract them by anchoring a perforated scent bag filled with oily fish or crushed crab near your underwater camera. They follow scent trails in the current to find food on the sandy bottom.

They are specialized bottom-feeders that eat crabs, shrimp, snails, and small fish. They use their flat, pavement-like teeth to crush the hard shells of their prey.

They are not found in inland suburban areas, but they are 'backyard' wildlife for those living on the Mediterranean or West African coasts, often visiting shallow beaches and estuaries near human settlements.

The most reliable way is to look at the underside of the snout; the Blackchin Guitarfish has a large, dark triangular spot that the Common Guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) lacks.

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