Platyrhinoidis triseriata

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	CHONDRICHTHYES	RAJIFORMES	PLATYRHINIDAE

Scientific Name:

Platyrhinoidis triseriata

Species Authority:

(Jordan & Gilbert, 1880)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Banjo Shark, California Thornback, Guitarfish, Round Skate, Shovelnose, Thornback, Thornback Ray

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:	2006
Assessor/s:	Carlisle, A.B. & Garayzar, C.V.
Reviewer/s:	Kyne, P.M., Heupel, M.R., Simpfendorfer, C.A. & Cavanagh, R.D. (Shark Red List Authority)
Justification: The thornback ray is an inshore species usually found in shallow water in bays, sloughs, lagoons, coastal beaches, and kelp forests. Appears to be common in certain bays, sloughs and lagoons, but not throughout its range. Very little is known about its biology and ecology. Individuals reach 91 cm total length (TL) and litter size ranges from one to 15 pups. This species has no commercial value but is known to be occasionally caught in commercial and recreational fisheries in the US, although catch information from Mexico is lacking. The species is common in parts of its range in California with no identifiable threats in that state. As California represents a significant proportion of the species? distribution it is assessed globally as Least Concern. However, little information is available from Mexican waters where it is found along Baja California, with isolated populations in the Gulf of California. Trawl and inshore net fisheries operate in these areas. This could be cause for concern and although this species cannot be assessed beyond Data Deficient in Mexico at the present time, its status there needs assessing and monitoring if its long-term viability is to be assured.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Endemic to southern USA and northern Mexico in the Eastern Central Pacific: Tomales Bay, California, U.S.A. to Bahía Magdalena/Bahía Las Almejas, Baja California, with isolated populations in the Gulf of California, Mexico (Miller and Lea 1972, Plant 1989, Cruz-Aguero et al. 1994, McEachran 1995, Castro-Aguirre and Perez 1996).
Countries:	Native: Mexico (Baja California); United States (California)
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Pacific – eastern central
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Uncommon north of Monterey Bay, California, U.S.A. (Ebert 2003). The species is very common in some bays and sloughs in California including Elkhorn Slough (D. Ebert, pers comm. 15/9/04). Reported to occur in isolated populations in the Gulf of California (Castro-Aguirre and Perez 1996) and is not as common there as in other parts of its range (J. Bizzarro pers. comm.). Miller and Lea (1972) report the species as common off Baja California, but this would relate to cooler northern waters. Its southern extent of occurrence off Baja California is Bahía Magdalena/Bahía Las Almejas (Cruz-Aguero et al. 1994).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Population:

Uncommon north of Monterey Bay, California, U.S.A. (Ebert 2003). The species is very common in some bays and sloughs in California including Elkhorn Slough (D. Ebert, pers comm. 15/9/04). Reported to occur in isolated populations in the Gulf of California (Castro-Aguirre and Perez 1996) and is not as common there as in other parts of its range (J. Bizzarro pers. comm.). Miller and Lea (1972) report the species as common off Baja California, but this would relate to cooler northern waters. Its southern extent of occurrence off Baja California is Bahía Magdalena/Bahía Las Almejas (Cruz-Aguero et al. 1994).

Population Trend:

Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	An inshore species usually found in water less than 6 m deep, but which have been recorded to 137 m depth. Primarily found on the mud and sand bottoms of bays and sloughs, lagoons, coastal beaches, and in and around kelp forests. They are known to concentrate in large numbers in certain coastal bays and sloughs (Limbaugh 1955, Feder et al. 1974, Larson and DeMartini 1984, Ebert 2003). Aplacental yolksac viviparous. Litter sizes range from one to 15 pups that are produced in an annual reproductive cycle. Mating occurs in summer with birthing the following summer (usually in August). Maximum size is 91 cm TL. Diet consists of polychaetes, crabs, shrimp, squid, and small teleosts such as anchovies, gobies, sardines, sculpins, and surfperch (Roedel and Ripley 1950, Van Blaricom 1982, Love 1996, Ebert 2003). Life history parameters taken from Ebert (2003). Life history parameters Age at maturity (years): Unknown. Size at maturity (total length): 48 cm TL (female); 37 cm TL. Longevity (years): Unknown. Maximum size (total length): 91 cm TL. Size at birth: 11 cm TL. Average reproductive age (years): Unknown. Gestation time (months): Unknown. Reproductive periodicity: Unknown. Average annual fecundity or litter size: 1 to 15. Annual rate of population increase: Unknown. Natural mortality: Unknown.
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

An inshore species usually found in water less than 6 m deep, but which have been recorded to 137 m depth. Primarily found on the mud and sand bottoms of bays and sloughs, lagoons, coastal beaches, and in and around kelp forests. They are known to concentrate in large numbers in certain coastal bays and sloughs (Limbaugh 1955, Feder et al. 1974, Larson and DeMartini 1984, Ebert 2003).

Aplacental yolksac viviparous. Litter sizes range from one to 15 pups that are produced in an annual reproductive cycle. Mating occurs in summer with birthing the following summer (usually in August). Maximum size is 91 cm TL.

Diet consists of polychaetes, crabs, shrimp, squid, and small teleosts such as anchovies, gobies, sardines, sculpins, and surfperch (Roedel and Ripley 1950, Van Blaricom 1982, Love 1996, Ebert 2003). Life history parameters taken from Ebert (2003).

Life history parameters
Age at maturity (years): Unknown.
Size at maturity (total length): 48 cm TL (female); 37 cm TL.
Longevity (years): Unknown.
Maximum size (total length): 91 cm TL.
Size at birth: 11 cm TL.
Average reproductive age (years): Unknown.
Gestation time (months): Unknown.
Reproductive periodicity: Unknown.
Average annual fecundity or litter size: 1 to 15.
Annual rate of population increase: Unknown.
Natural mortality: Unknown.

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Thornbacks are not targeted but are known to be occasionally caught in commercial and recreational fisheries in US waters. Little information available on catches in Mexico, but likely to be taken by inshore fisheries in lagoons on the Baja Pacific coast and probably by shrimp trawls in the Gulf of California. Further information is urgently required given the species restricted range in Mexico.

Major Threat(s):

Thornbacks are not targeted but are known to be occasionally caught in commercial and recreational fisheries in US waters. Little information available on catches in Mexico, but likely to be taken by inshore fisheries in lagoons on the Baja Pacific coast and probably by shrimp trawls in the Gulf of California. Further information is urgently required given the species restricted range in Mexico.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	None currently in place. This ray is common in some areas but very little is known about it, so basic research still needs to be conducted in order to learn more about its biology, ecology, and population dynamics. The population in Mexico needs to be monitored for its importance in fisheries. The development and implementation of management plans (national and/or regional e.g. under the FAO International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks: IPOA?Sharks) are required to facilitate the conservation and sustainable management of all chondrichthyan species in the USA and Mexico. At the time of writing, the USA has developed a National Plan of Action (NPOA), while Mexico had developed a NPOA but implementation has been blocked by industry (Anon. 2004).

Conservation Actions:

None currently in place. This ray is common in some areas but very little is known about it, so basic research still needs to be conducted in order to learn more about its biology, ecology, and population dynamics. The population in Mexico needs to be monitored for its importance in fisheries.

The development and implementation of management plans (national and/or regional e.g. under the FAO International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks: IPOA?Sharks) are required to facilitate the conservation and sustainable management of all chondrichthyan species in the USA and Mexico. At the time of writing, the USA has developed a National Plan of Action (NPOA), while Mexico had developed a NPOA but implementation has been blocked by industry (Anon. 2004).

Bibliography [top]

	Anonymous. 2004. Report on the implementation of the UN FAO International Plan of Action for Sharks (IPOA?Sharks). AC20 Inf. 5. Twentieth meeting of the CITES Animals Committee, Johannesburg (South Africa), 29 March?2 April 2004. Beltrán-Félix, J.L, Gregory-Hammann, M., Chagoya-Guzmán, A. and Alvarez-Borego, S. 1986. Ictiofauna del estero de Punta Banda, Ensenada Baja California, Mexico, antes de una operacion de dragado. Ciencias Marinas 12(1):79?92. Castro-Aguirre, J.L. and Perez, H.E. 1996. Listados Faunisticos de Mexico. VII. Catalogo sistematico de las rayas y especies afines de Mexico. Inst. de Biologia, Univ. Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. de la Cruz-Agüero, J., Galvan-Magaña, F., Abitia-Cárdenas, L.A., Rodríguez-Romero, J. and Gutiérrez-Sánchez, F.J. 1994. Lista sistematica de los peces marinos de Bahía Magdalena, Baja California Sur (México). [Systematic list of marine fishes from Bahia Magdalena, Baja California Sur (Mexico)]. Ciencias Marinas 20(1):17?31. Ebert, D.A. 2003. Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras of California. University of California Press, Berkeley. Feder, H.M., Turner, C.H. and Limbaugh, C. 1974. Observations on fishes associated with kelp beds in southern California. California Fish and Game Fish Bulletin 160: 44. Gates, D.E. and Frey, H.W. 1974. Designated common names of certain marine organisms of California. California Fish and Game Bulletin 161:55?90. IUCN. 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 04 May 2006. IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. Specialist Group website. Available at: http://www.iucnssg.org/. Jordan, D.S. and Gilbert, C.H. 1880. Description of a new ray (Platyrhina triseriata), from the coast of California. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 3(108):36?38. Larson, R.J. and DeMartini, E.E. 1984. Abundance and vertical distribution of fishes in a cobble-bottom kelp forest off San Onofre, California. Fishery Bulletin 82(1):37?53. Limbaugh, C. 1955. Fish life in the kelp beds and the effects of kelp harvesting. Institute of Marine Resources, University of California La Jolla, IMR Reference 55-9. Love, M. 1996. Probably More Than You Want To Know About The Fishes Of The Pacific Coast. Really Big Press, Santa Barbara, California. McEachran, J.D. 1995. Rhinobatidae. In: W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem (eds). Guia FAO para la identificacion de especies para los fines de la pesca. pp:778?781. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. FAO, Rome Miller, D.J. and Lea, R.N. 1972. Guide to the coastal marine fishes of California. California Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Bulletin 157. Plant, R. 1989. A northern range extension for the thornback ray, Platyrhinoidis triseriata. California Fish and Game 75(1):54 Roedel, P.M. and Ripley, W.E. 1950. California sharks and rays. California Fisheries Bulletin No. 75. Van Blaricom, G.R. 1982. Experimental analyses of structural regulation in a marine sand community exposed to oceanic swell. Ecological Monographs 52(3):283?305.

Anonymous. 2004. Report on the implementation of the UN FAO International Plan of Action for Sharks (IPOA?Sharks). AC20 Inf. 5. Twentieth meeting of the CITES Animals Committee, Johannesburg (South Africa), 29 March?2 April 2004.

Beltrán-Félix, J.L, Gregory-Hammann, M., Chagoya-Guzmán, A. and Alvarez-Borego, S. 1986. Ictiofauna del estero de Punta Banda, Ensenada Baja California, Mexico, antes de una operacion de dragado. Ciencias Marinas 12(1):79?92.

Castro-Aguirre, J.L. and Perez, H.E. 1996. Listados Faunisticos de Mexico. VII. Catalogo sistematico de las rayas y especies afines de Mexico. Inst. de Biologia, Univ. Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.

de la Cruz-Agüero, J., Galvan-Magaña, F., Abitia-Cárdenas, L.A., Rodríguez-Romero, J. and Gutiérrez-Sánchez, F.J. 1994. Lista sistematica de los peces marinos de Bahía Magdalena, Baja California Sur (México). [Systematic list of marine fishes from Bahia Magdalena, Baja California Sur (Mexico)]. Ciencias Marinas 20(1):17?31.

Ebert, D.A. 2003. Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras of California. University of California Press, Berkeley.

Feder, H.M., Turner, C.H. and Limbaugh, C. 1974. Observations on fishes associated with kelp beds in southern California. California Fish and Game Fish Bulletin 160: 44.

Gates, D.E. and Frey, H.W. 1974. Designated common names of certain marine organisms of California. California Fish and Game Bulletin 161:55?90.

IUCN. 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 04 May 2006.

IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. Specialist Group website. Available at: http://www.iucnssg.org/.

Jordan, D.S. and Gilbert, C.H. 1880. Description of a new ray (Platyrhina triseriata), from the coast of California. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 3(108):36?38.

Larson, R.J. and DeMartini, E.E. 1984. Abundance and vertical distribution of fishes in a cobble-bottom kelp forest off San Onofre, California. Fishery Bulletin 82(1):37?53.

Limbaugh, C. 1955. Fish life in the kelp beds and the effects of kelp harvesting. Institute of Marine Resources, University of California La Jolla, IMR Reference 55-9.

Love, M. 1996. Probably More Than You Want To Know About The Fishes Of The Pacific Coast. Really Big Press, Santa Barbara, California.

McEachran, J.D. 1995. Rhinobatidae. In: W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem (eds). Guia FAO para la identificacion de especies para los fines de la pesca. pp:778?781. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. FAO, Rome

Miller, D.J. and Lea, R.N. 1972. Guide to the coastal marine fishes of California. California Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Bulletin 157.

Plant, R. 1989. A northern range extension for the thornback ray, Platyrhinoidis triseriata. California Fish and Game 75(1):54

Roedel, P.M. and Ripley, W.E. 1950. California sharks and rays. California Fisheries Bulletin No. 75.

Van Blaricom, G.R. 1982. Experimental analyses of structural regulation in a marine sand community exposed to oceanic swell. Ecological Monographs 52(3):283?305.

Citation:	Carlisle, A.B. & Garayzar, C.V. 2006. Platyrhinoidis triseriata. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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