plain plain brown species family found shallow soft habitats northern australia reaching width species diamond shaped grayish green pectoral fin disc short whip like tail alternating black white bands fin short rows base tail skin smooth species possesses dark mask like pattern eyes common genus patterned like benthic nature plain feeds mainly shrimp worms lesser extent small bony fishes viviparous females producing litters young gestation milk species lacks economic value caught incidentally thought able withstand build limited distribution low listed taxonomy phylogeny scientific description plain authored researcher peter issue memoirs specific comes latin marked refers ray coloration male caught western_australia designated tentatively placed species genus noting belonged species group included elevated group rank genus basis morphological molecular phylogenetic evidence phylogenetic analysis based mitochondrial nuclear dna plain found basal members divergence lineage estimated occurred furthermore individuals study genetically distinct suggesting cryptic species complex species estimated diverged event likely splitting ancestral population coastline changes description pectoral fin disc plain thin diamond shaped narrowly rounded outer corners measuring times longer wide leading margins disc gently concave converge broad angle pointed tip snout small eyes placed close nostrils elongated skirt shaped skin small mouth bears prominent furrows corners contains slender floor small found outside mouth pairs gill slits pelvic fins fairly large pointed tail short barely exceeding length disc intact broad flattened base leading usually spines tail slender bears long ventral fin fold shorter lower dorsal fin fold body lacks dermal denticles row small closely spaced present row dorsal coloration grayish green pinkish disc margins dark mask like shape eyes pair small dark tail alternating black white bands variable width ending black tip underside plain white ventral fin fold light grayish color species grows long distribution habitat plain inhabits continental shelf northern australia queensland western australia including seas reports range extends southern common species native region species prefers habitats fine sediment recorded deep tends found farther away shore range biology ecology plain generally hunts surface substrate digging prey diet consists predominantly shrimp worms small bony fishes eaten occasional larger rays consume greater variety prey relatively worms compared smaller rays species like plain viviparous developing embryos sustained term milk produced mother mature females single functional left litter size measure males females reach sexual maturity disc respectively maximum lifespan estimated years males years females human interactions main conservation threat plain incidental capture commercial fisheries present day caused australia operates range species discarded caught delicate bodied unlikely survive encounters gear historically species negatively affected japanese chinese northern australia factors coupled plain limited distribution low reproductive rate resulted assessed
Plain maskray