Rhinobatoidei

fish suborder

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July 16, 2026

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The term Rhinobatoidei refers to an order of fish closely related to rays, commonly known as guitarfish. This order includes approximately 47 to 50 species across three families. Guitarfish are characterized by a flattened body with pectoral fins attached to the sides of their head, while their hindbody resembles that of a shark with two dorsal fins and a distinct caudal fin. They can grow up to 2 meters (6 feet) in length and are found in tropical and warm temperate waters worldwide, typically in shallow areas. Their diet consists of small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, and they reproduce ovoviviparously. The genus Rhinobatos and the family Rhinobatidae are specifically associated with these viviparous elasmobranch fishes, which share characteristics of both rays and sharks.123

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chondrichthyan
Annotated classification
Suborder Rhinobatoidei (guitarfishes) Electric organs are lacking; well-developed dorsal and caudal fins are present; base of tail is stout, not sharply marked off from rest of body. Most species are ovoviviparous, some perhaps oviparous. Early Jurassic to present. Family Rhynchobatidae Distinguished by caudal
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Suborder Rhinobatoidei (guitarfishes) Electric organs are lacking; well-developed dorsal and caudal fins are present; base of tail is stout, not sharply marked off from rest of body. Most species are ovoviviparous, some perhaps oviparous. Early Jurassic to present. Family Rhynchobatidae Distinguished by caudal
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