Fish Species.

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busterwa
busterwa
3782 posts
3782 posts
21 Dec 2011 1:35pm
Require fisherman boatie to confirm fish species. and quick write up on if its poisonous or not etc. Everyone is stabbing it in the dark? any one confirm?

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Shark-or-Ray/
Beersy
Beersy
TAS
753 posts
Zuke
Zuke
901 posts
901 posts
21 Dec 2011 2:03pm
Southern Fiddler. AKA Banjo Ray or Shark.
busterwa
busterwa
3782 posts
3782 posts
21 Dec 2011 2:15pm
The fiddler rays or banjo sharks are a genus, Trygonorrhina, of guitarfish, family Rhinobatidae. There are two species, found along the eastern and southern coasts of Australia. They are benthic in nature, favoring shallow sandy bays, rocky reefs, and seagrass beds. The eastern fiddler is found to a depth of 120 meters and the southern fiddler to a depth of 180 meters.[1][2]

The flattened pectoral fin discs of fiddler rays are shorter and more rounded than that of other guitarfishes. Their tails are slender, with a well-developed caudal fin and two triangular dorsal fins.[3] Their snouts are translucent.[1] The fiddler rays are also distinguished from other guitarfishes in that the anterior nasal flaps of their nostrils are expanded backwards and fused together into a nasal curtain that reaches the mouth.[4]

Fiddler rays feed on bottom shellfish, crabs, and worms, which they crush between their jaws.[1] The eastern fiddler ray is known to scavenge from fish traps.[4] Like other guitarfishes, fiddler rays are ovoviviparous. The egg capsules of the southern fiddler ray are reported to be golden in color, containing three embryos each.[2] It gives birth to litters of 4-6 young per breeding cycle.[5] Fiddler rays are harmless and easily approached by divers.[1] Southern fiddler rays are taken as bycatch by commercial trawlers and by recreational fishers; the flesh is of good quality and sold in small quantities.[5]

Sorry KDOG its a banjo shark or a fiddler ray Wiki doesn't seem to answer that one! Was that a trick question?!!!!
K Dog
K Dog
VIC
1847 posts
VIC, 1847 posts
21 Dec 2011 5:19pm
Yeah I recon so. Couldn't understand why it was called a shark.... kind of a sharkray...... because of the long thick tail perhaps......
Skid
Skid
QLD
1499 posts
QLD, 1499 posts
21 Dec 2011 5:48pm
Zuke said...

Southern Fiddler. AKA Banjo Ray or Shark.


^^ +1, Fiddler, harmless
Sailhack
Sailhack
VIC
5000 posts
VIC, 5000 posts
22 Dec 2011 10:07am
K Dog said...

Yeah I recon so. Couldn't understand why it was called a shark.... kind of a sharkray...... because of the long thick tail perhaps......


Sharks & rays are related, hence the names on some species. A Banjo 'shark' has very similar features to a Port Jackson 'shark. The similarities are - all have cartilage instead of bones, gill slits, similar mouth/teeth shapes and raspy skin (not scales). Without googling the similarities, that's the best I can do as a fisho to give you an example of why they're called sharks and not rays in some cases.

By the way - as mentioned above, definitely a Banjo - caught & released many whilst fishing for other species, harmless and a very calm fish - as per most sharks & rays. I paddled over the top of one about 2 weeks ago, it was just lying in the seagrass in about half metre of water, it wasn't phased that I paddled around over the top of it having a good gawk.
K Dog
K Dog
VIC
1847 posts
VIC, 1847 posts
22 Dec 2011 10:33am
Sailhack, you know if its safe to swim around those big rays in the bay here? I'd like to get some cool pics or videos of some. Obviously non-invasive style, just swim next to my board and see if they come up and around......

I have seen some massive ones down Mt Martha......
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