Four blackchin guitarfish born at Nausicaá in 2023

On the 2nd of June, the handlers at the Centre National de la Mer were delighted to discover the birth of four baby blackchin guitarfish. The handlers, who suspected that one of the females was pregnant, had isolated her in a reserve tank a few days earlier.

According to the IUCN, this species is in critical danger of extinction. In 2009, the blackchin guitarfish was bred in an aquarium at Nausicaá for the first time anywhere in the world. Since then, when babies are born, they are sent to other aquariums such as in Lisbon, Vienna, Valencia, etc. to ensure that this threatened species can reproduce and be conserved.

Although the handlers suspected that the blackchin guitarfish were gestating, the surprise was only confirmed when they were actually born. As the species is not very prolific, these new births are always cause for celebration.
For several weeks now, the Nausicaá teams have been looking after these babies, who weighed 150 grams when they were born: the four youngsters have been isolated in reserve so that they can be closely monitored. The aquarists are keeping a very close eye on their diet and behaviour.

A unique gestation process

The blackchin guitarfish has a highly unusual reproductive system, as the female has two uteruses. It is an aplacental viviparous species. In other words, the baby develops in one of the two uteruses and halfway through gestation, the lining of the uterus produces protein-rich mucus, which becomes a source of food for the embryo. It can have one or two litters a year, each with up to 12 embryos.

This species is found in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean from Portugal to Angola. A victim of overfishing and the destruction of its habitat, the blackchin guitarfish is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN.
In its natural habitat, it lives on the seabed (down to 90 m), which limits its movements to coastal areas and prevents it from crossing ocean trenches and reconquering new territories.

Nausicaá’s role in safeguarding the species

To preserve the species, since 2014 a Nausicaá aquarist has been coordinating the European conservation programme (EEP).

Therefore, the role of the Centre National de la Mer is as follows:

• Record and individually monitor all blackchin guitarfish in European aquariums.
• Provide breeding recommendations.
• Propose exchanges and seek out institutions for the placement of newborn babies in order to maintain a genetically healthy population.
• Collect and share aquarium breeding data.
• Help to increase knowledge of the species.
• Serve as an expert advisor in discussions on the preservation of the species, such as within the IUCN’s “Wedgefish and Guitarfish Network”.