A free diver who spends a good deal of time underwater off the coast of Australia came across a once-in-a-lifetime find—a very rare marine animal called a “shark ray” or a bowmouth guitarfish. Bowmouth guitarfish populations are in trouble thanks to “intense fishing pressure on their coastal and shelf habitats.” The IUCN explains that fishing is largely unregulated across the majority of this animal’s distributions. Because guitarfish live in shallow, inshore soft-bottom habitats, they’re also particularly vulnerable to habitat loss and environmental degradation.
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“I can not believe I got this shot,” wrote goldcoastfreediver in his TikTok post sharing the footage. “This is the critically endangered Shark Ray (Rhina ancylostmus)[.] I have never in my life seen this beautiful creature. Easily over 2m in length. This is another reason Kirra reef should be a green zone.”
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Goldcoastfreediver’s video shows the back of the guitarfish as it glides along the bottom of the seabed. He says it’s possible he’ll never see one of these animals again.
See the rare marine animal here:
Header stock image of critically endangered Bowmouth Guitarfish at Flat Rock, North Stradbroke Island, Australia by AndriiSlonchak/Getty Images
