ORLANDO, Fla. – SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium is preparing for the grand debut of four guitarfish.
The aquarium located at ICON Park said the four fish will be found in Stingray Cove, which is already home to Ted the loggerhead sea turtle and Joy the zebra shark.
[TRENDING: These senior citizens gave their best Valentine’s Day advice | Historic Orlando hotel was mecca for African American celebrities of the ‘60s, ‘70s | Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]
“The aptly named Gibson, Fender, Ibanez and Martin will be part of a breeding program at SEA LIFE Orlando where expert scientists will work to aid in the long-term survival of the critically-endangered species of rays,” the aquarium said in a news release.
According to NOAA Fisheries, guitarfishes have a moderately depressed, elongated, shark-like body form, well-separated dorsal fins, and an elongated wedge-shaped snout.
The main threats to the common guitarfish are commercial fishing to supply the shark fin trade and subsistence fishing to supply meat to growing coastal populations. They are close relatives to skates and rays.
In 2017, NOAA Fisheries listed the species as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
The four guitarfish will make their public debut sometime in March.
Use the form below to sign up for the ClickOrlando.com In the Loop: Theme Park Scoops newsletter, sent every Friday morning.