Aptychotrema rostrata

The eastern shovelnose ray (Aptychotrema rostrata) is a species of guitarfish in the family Rhinobatidae of order Rhinopristiformes. The species is endemic to the east coast of Australia and inhabits subtropical and temperate waters from southern Queensland to southern New South Wales. The eastern shovelnose ray is a small to medium size guitarfish reaching total lengths of . Recent studies suggest the species may have trichromatic colour vision due to the discovery of three spectrally distinct cone visual pigments in the retinae. The eastern shovelnose ray expresses a difference in tooth and jaw structure according to sex, with males developing a more pronounced lower jaw, longer and sharper teeth, and greater jaw strength to enable males to grip a female's fin during mating. The diet of the eastern shovelnose ray consists predominantly of fish, molluscs and benthic invertebrates. Shovelnose rays are suction-crushing feeders and their teeth structure and shape enables them to grind their hard-bodied prey. The eastern shovelnose ray has a distinct annual and seasonal reproductive cycle with the species mating in winter and giving birth to pups in the summer months. Litter size ranges from 4 to 20 pups with larger females giving birth to more young. The reproductive mode is yolk sac viviparous meaning the species develops multiple young at the same time as embryos are connected to a large external yolk sac which provides nutrients, eliminates waste and maintains respiration. This sac is gradually digested before the young are born. Commercial trawling in New South Wales and Queensland report high catch rates of the eastern shovelnose ray, however, the limited knowledge of the reproductive biology of the species means the vulnerability of the eastern shovelnose ray cannot be accurately concluded. The species is also caught recreationally and by Indigenous Australians. The eastern shovelnose ray can be sold and eaten as seafood.

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