The freckled guitarfish is a fantastic example of animal camouflage. Part of the skate family, this flat fish looks like a combination of a shark and a ray. Its pointed head meets its body near two round pectoral fins that look sort of like the waist of an acoustic guitar, and its long tail looks like a guitar’s neck. Its tan body with brown and white spots helps it blend in with the ocean floor. Guitarfish are very rare, and they may soon be even harder to find. Many of the places they live — such as the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico — have heavy shrimp trawling, and guitarfish are in danger of getting caught in the shrimp trawls.
