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DOWNLOADABLE RESEARCH PAPER: wedgefish Rhynchobatus springer |
A new species of wedgefish, Rhynchobatus springeri
(Rhynchobatoidei, Rhynchobatidae), from the Western Pacific
Leonard J.V. Compagno1 & Peter R. Last2
ABSTRACT. A new species of wedgefish, Rhynchobatus springeri sp. nov. is described from specimens
collected from the Indo–Malay region, with a confirmed range extending from the Gulf of Thailand south
to Java, and possibly westward to at least Sri Lanka. It is a medium-sized species to about 215 cm TL, with
males reaching adulthood at about 110 cm TL. Rhynchobatus springeri closely resembles R. palpebratus in
body shape and having a dark, eye-brow like marking on its orbital membrane, but differs from this species
in having a lower vertebral count (113–126 vs. 130–139 total free centra), a broader preorbital snout, and
more rows of white spots on the tail of adults. Other Rhynchobatus species in the region attain a much larger
adult size, and have a relatively narrower snout and much higher vertebral counts. A revision of the group
is needed to find more useful field characters.
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