shovelnose

[ shuhv-uhl-nohz ]

noun

1. any of various animals with a shovellike snout or head, as a guitarfish, Rhinobatos productus, of California.
2. shovelnose sturgeon.

shovelnose

/ ˈʃʌvəlˌnəʊz /

noun

1. an American freshwater sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus platorynchus, having a broad shovel-like snout

Word History and Origins

Origin of shovelnose¹

An Americanism dating back to 1700–10; shovel + nose

Example Sentences

He said he saw large catfish dead, as well as shovelnose sturgeon.

From New York Times

But smaller sea creatures, including shovelnose guitarfish, bat rays and horn sharks, live in Southern California’s estuaries and lagoons, swim just off its coastal beaches and feed along the now-tainted shoreline off Orange County.

From Washington Post

Larger mammals such as dolphins and whales can swim away in the short term, search for new habitat, but smaller sea creatures including shovelnose guitar fish, bat rays and horn sharks live in Southern California’s estuaries and lagoons, swim just off its coastal beaches and feed along the now-tainted shoreline off of Orange County.

From Los Angeles Times

Six feet in this state equals four trout, two shovelnose sturgeon, one paddlefish or a fishing rod.

From New York Times

And in late December a shovelnose shark bit a man in shallow waters at North West Island.

From The Guardian