 Following the description of "Rhynchorhina" in 2016, a study of mtDNA found that it is part of the same group and their phylogenetic relationship is (("Rhynchobatus"+"Rhynchorhina")+"Rhina").In terms of classification, Bloch and Schneider originally placed the bowmouth guitarfish in the order Abdominales, a now-obsolete grouping of fishes defined by the positioning of their pelvic fins directly behind the pectoral fins.Modern sources have included it variously in the order Rajiformes, Rhinobatiformes, Rhiniformes, or the newly proposed Rhinopristiformes.