butterfly ray butterfly ray species butterfly ray family native red_sea southern japan western indonesia growing ray shaped pectoral fin disc twice wide long colored brown gray small light spots eyes smooth species identified tail long snout vent distance lacks fins bears alternating black white bands dwelling nature butterfly ray sandy muddy habitats coastal waters shallower diet consists bony fishes crustaceans species gives birth live young developing embryos yolk later milk supplied mother defined breeding season females bear litters seven pups meat butterfly ray caught commercial fisheries listed species citing high levels fishing pressure range low reproductive rate taxonomy phylogeny butterfly ray originally described english zoologist designate type specimen account based illustration scottish naturalist published year earlier fishes collected specific epithet derived greek colors tail later authors moved species genus research needed determine isolated butterfly rays french fact species rest range phylogenetic studies based morphology mitochondrial dna indicate butterfly ray closely related butterfly ray shares range butterfly ray butterfly ray description pectoral fin disc butterfly ray shape characteristic family measuring twice wide long leading margin disc gently trailing margin convex outer corners mildly angular snout short broad tiny protruding tip medium sized eyes larger smooth nostrils positioned close mouth short broad curtain skin smooth margin large mouth forms transverse curve contains tooth rows jaw increasing number age teeth small narrow pointed pairs short gill slits underside disc pelvic fins small rounded thread like tail lacks dorsal caudal fins low ridges length length equal distance snout tip vent distinguishing species butterfly rays shorter tails small spine rarely upper surface tail near base skin devoid dermal denticles species brown greenish brown gray small pale spots dark dots tail black bands alternating white bands small positioned dark spot underside white edges fins butterfly ray maximum width distribution habitat widespread member family butterfly ray found red_sea westward india sri_lanka china southern japan philippines western islands indonesia including borneo sumatra java reported french taxonomic note fairly common areas dwelling species inhabits coastal waters depths preferring sandy muddy bottoms appear migrate biology ecology butterfly ray feeds bony fishes particular genus crustaceans known large numbers known parasites ray include like butterfly rays species viviparous young sustained initially yolk later milk produced mother adult females functional reproductive activity proceeds year peak april october gestation period unknown possible females bear litter year litter size seven pups female size measure look like adult siblings differ color males females mature sexually roughly respectively human interactions butterfly ray widely caught meat commercial fisheries including india thailand indonesia taken set lesser degree nets fishing gear specific population catch data lacking butterfly ray thought susceptible low reproductive rate fact pregnant females young captured given high intensity fishing pressure range assessed species
Longtail butterfly ray