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fishing forecast

brazilian guitarfish

Pseudobatos horkelii · Rhinobatidae · predator

Seanational list: CR · critically endangeredessential profile

Brazilian guitarfish of the South Atlantic, from Rio de Janeiro to Argentina. It is critically endangered in Brazil: catching it is prohibited, and the right thing is to recognize it and release it.

Also called: viola, guitarra, Brazilian guitarfish

Scientific illustration of Brazilian guitarfish
maximum
138 cm
depth
1–150 m
location

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period

Reading the weather across 3 global models and 31 simulations…

the species

everything about the brazilian guitarfish

overview

who is the brazilian guitarfish

The Brazilian guitarfish belongs to the family Rhinobatidae and reaches 138 cm. It lives from the coast to the edge of the continental shelf, 1 to 150 m deep, between Rio de Janeiro and Argentina. It feeds on crustaceans, cephalopods, polychaetes and small fish. It is ovoviviparous: the embryos first feed on the yolk and then on a fluid from the uterus. Each litter has 4 to 12 pups. Females mature at around 90 cm. It is caught in commercial fishing, and in Brazil catching it is prohibited.

Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the brazilian guitarfish.

fun facts

  • Females mature at around 90 cm.
  • In addition to the yolk, the embryo receives nutrients from the uterine fluid.
how to recognize it

identification

Ray with a uniform back, olive brown or chocolate brown, without light or dark blotches. The snout has an oval dark patch, and the nostrils are longer. The head is flat on top, and the middle row of tubercles is larger and shaped like a spine. The first dorsal fin starts behind the tip of the pelvic fins.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

Occurs in the Southwest Atlantic, from Rio de Janeiro to Argentina, passing through Uruguay, on coastal and shelf bottoms.

Habitat: From the coast to the edge of the shelf, on sand and mud bottoms, 1 to 150 m deep.

coast

Southeast CoastSouth Coastcoastalshelf
what the law says

rules for the brazilian guitarfish

Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: On the national list of threatened species as CR. Global IUCN assessment: CR.

Threatened species in Brazil: catch banned

full protection

The national list (Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667/2026) classifies the species as CR. Under Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.666/2026 (art. 3), VU, EN and CR species have full protection: catch, transport, storage, processing and trade are banned. If you hook one by accident, release it right away, with minimal handling.

Source: Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.666/2026, art. 3º, and Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667/2026

Threatened sharks and rays: catching prohibited

North CoastNortheast CoastSoutheast CoastSouth Coast

Many sharks and rays are on the national list (CR, EN or VU), with catching, keeping and transport prohibited, including those listed here. Species added to the list only in 2026 follow the 180-day deadline (until about Oct 25, 2026). If unsure of the species, release it.

Source: Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.666/2026 (art. 3º) and nº 1.667/2026 (Annex I)

catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.

Critically endangered species: capture is prohibited in Brazil. If you hook it by accident, release it right away, with minimal handling.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00282, b = 3.12; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.

estimated weight

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sources and references

Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.

  1. scientific FishBase: Pseudobatos horkelii (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
  2. scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Pseudobatos horkeliiNames by country and language.
  3. official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.