Hi Jürgen,

The disc shape, the number and pattern of dorsal spines, and location are all consistent with Glaucostegus obtusus. But please note that I'm not an expert in elasmobranchs of that region.

Hope it helps,

Luis

Hi Luís, thanks a lot for your ID.I had the same idea. I only was confused about the coloration. It must be a juvenile. All the best

Hi Juergen, I can't comment on the ID of this ray but it appears to be a melanistic or pseudomelanistic individual. It's pretty common in elasmobranchs. I've seen it in several Squalus and Mustelus lenticulatus. The magpie banjo ray (name eludes me right now) described from South Australia was recently shown to be a melanistic morph of the southern banjo ray.

Dear Pollerspoeck,

I studied only Rhinobatos rhinobatos from the Mediterranean Sea, but I think this species "Rhinobatos obtusus" whitenose guitarfish, but it is difficult to identificate only on photograph, this species, Indo-West Pacific: off Pakistan to the 'Malay Archipelago' and the 'East Indies', with more specific records from the area not confirmed. South African records refer to Rhinobatos blochii and Rhinobatos leucospilus 

Hi Clinton, many thanks for informing me about melanism in elasmobranchs. I didn't know that melanism is a common phenomena in sharks and rays. All the best Jürgen 

 Hi Cahide,

Thank's for your comment and the confirmation of the ID! It is really useful for me to get all your comments and support. All the best Jürgen 

Looks like Glaucostegus obtusus

Hello K.V Akhilesh, thanks for your ID. Did you ever see a G. obtusus with such a coloration?

https://www.google.com/search?q=Rhinobatos+blochii+and+Rhinobatos+leucospilus&safe=active&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjJlojqku_RAhXKy1QKHcUoDlUQ_AUICSgC&biw=1024&bih=730&dpr=1.25   I don't work with any of these species so I am curious as to how they differ and Googleing/ goggling  it, produced so many variation of colors in this variety or family of Rays. Anyway, I have come across rays in my earlier life as a Biologist technician when we were seining for Gravid Prawns in the Philippines and we catch more rays than we need. Usually, rays from the same environment almost always have the same specks and they differ in specks if they probably are of different species. I cannot add more into the knowledge of the experts, I can only  say thanks for sharing this. It sparked my curiosity.

Dear Ruth, many thanks for your message and your experience! 

All the best Jürgen