About Glaucostegus halavi (Forsskål, 1775)
The halavi guitarfish, scientifically named Glaucostegus halavi, belongs to the Glaucostegidae family. It is a species of ray that lives in the Indo-West Pacific, ranging from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Oman. There are unconfirmed records of this species being found in areas east of Oman. It has been recorded twice in Levantine waters, once in 1997 and once in 2004, and it remains unconfirmed whether it has established a permanent population in the Mediterranean Sea. Its species name comes from the Arabic word حلاوي (halawi). Halavi guitarfish are typically large, with a short, wide snout that ends in a rounded tip. Their color is usually yellow or gray, which provides camouflage on the sea floor. Newborn halavi guitarfish average around 29 centimeters long, and adults can grow up to 171 centimeters in length. This species feeds on small molluscs and bony fishes.
