Author: (Linnaeus, 1758) Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus, 1758) Diagnosis: snout obtuse, forming an angle of about 135°; disc about twice as broad as long; tail about 1/4 of disc length, with one or several serrated spines near base. Because the spiny butterfly rays are particularly sensitive to their surroundings, the researchers needed to create optimal conditions for them to feel comfortable and live the natural life they would have in the ocean. A slender tentacle-like process pointing backward from inner margin of spiracle. Mar Biodivers Rec 9:95. Both have led the species to be labeled by the IUCN Red List as vulnerable with a declining population. The size of the Ocean Tank, which holds 3.5 million liters of water, its exceptional water quality, and the stable ecosystem created by the several species of sharks, rays, and fish that call it home, are all part of their success, he says. CSIRO Publishing, (2) Yokota L, Carvalho MR (2017) Taxonomic and morphological revision of butterfly rays of the Gymnura micrura (Bloch & Schneider 1801) species complex, with the description of two new species (Myliobatiformes: Gymnuridae). Dorsal fin absent. In Brazil, they’re considered critically endangered because of the heavy fishing activity off its coast. Spiny butterfly rays are ovoviviparous and give birth to live young. Spiny butterfly rays blend into the sand, camouflaging themselves to hunt small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Spiny butterfly ray (Gymnura altavela) it’s a species of large Atlantic butterfly ray that has a spine at the base of its tail. Spiny butterfly ray - Gymnura altavela Diagnostic characters: Medium to large-sized stingrays (maximum disc width over 2 m).Body strongly depressed, with head, trunk, and broadly expanded pectoral fins forming rhomboid disc. Background. Source: Suresh T.V., Raffi S.M. TURKEY Antalya, 20 October 2019 2. "If, by chance, this species, the spiny butterfly ray, were to disappear from nature, which is not unlikely, we will at least be able to hold on to the biodiversity of our planet in some way because it will still exist in captivity. Spiny butterfly ray Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus, 1758) kingdom Animalia - animals » phylum Chordata - chordates » class Chondrichthyes - cartilaginous fishes » order Batoidei - rays and skates » family Gymnuridae - butterfly rays » genus Gymnura. It is native to the shallow coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Spiny Butterfly Ray. Disk very broad. "You don't preserve what you don't know," he says. They have a very short, thread-like, tail. The spiny butterfly ray can be easily distinguished from stingrays by their compressed body, pectoral fins that are wider than their length, and overall diamond shape. Occasionally spiny butterfly rays attend the organized ray feeds at Los Gigantes on Tenerife (where the featured specimen was seen). Los Gigantes Diving offers freestyle feeds once or twice per week. Spiny butterfly rays are ovoviviparous and give birth to live young. Now 11 months old, they are thriving and expected to be introduced to the Ocean Tank soon. An adult female spiny butterfly ray with an incomplete developed rostrum was observed in the Port of Sardina (Gáldar, Gran Canaria) during two consecutive years in 2007 and 2008. (Related: Learn what the discovery of a rare manta ray nursery means for survival of the species.). The spiny butterfly is a ray from the family Gymnuridae, characterized by its very broad disk, resembling a wide triangle in its shape. This species is also known by … These anomalies are characterized by the lack of fusion of its right pectoral fin to the cranium, leaving an opening in the anterior part of the disc which is normally closed. Their only defense is a tail spine that can cause a painful wound if stepped on. Eine Spannweite von 2,5 Meter ist möglich. This is also the first time that an anomaly is reported for an elasmobranch species in its natural environment and for this class of fishes in the Canary Islands. The spiny butterfly ray or giant butterfly ray (Gymnura altavela) is a species of butterfly ray family, Gymnuridae. They were bred in captivity for the … The mean disc width (WD) of females and males was 576.7 mm (range = 190–920 mm) and 416.3 mm (230–550 mm), respectively. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Mar Biodivers Rec 9:95. The first cases of a morphologic abnormality in the spiny butterfly ray are documented for individuals off the Canary Islands. Journal of Threatened Taxa vía DOI 10.11609/jott.3767.10.9.12280-12281 “Rostral anomaly in a juvenile Spiny Butterfly Ray Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus, 1758) (Elasmobranchii: Myliobatiformes: Gymnuridae) from the Canary Islands”. The butterfly ray is an active predator. The spiny butterfly ray (Gymnura altavela) The spiny butterfly ray Gymnura altavela is one of 12 butterfly rays species known worldwide (1,2). The other threat hindering their population is pollution. The birth took place in a smaller tank within the Ocean Tank, generally used when divers enter to care for species inside. Spiny Butterfly Ray Pictures - Gymnura altavela Images: These Spiny Butterfly Ray Pictures are available as commercial files. They have an annual reproductive cycle with a gestation period of 4 to 9 months. (1) Last P et al (2016) Rays of the world. Spiny butterfly ray* Gymnura altavela* (LINNAEUS, 1758) Photo by: J. Pfleiderer Additional images here: www.biolib.cz Spiny Butterfly Ray - Gymnura altavela *Information from FAO Species Identification Guide Western Central Atlantic* The divemaster takes a huge barrel of fish scraps to 60ft and offers them to the eagerly gathering ray species. Spiny butterfly ray (Gymnura altavela) it’s a species of large Atlantic butterfly ray that has a spine at the base of its tail. They have an annual reproductive cycle with a gestation period of 4 to 9 months. The spiny butterfly ray is a demersel species that prefers brackish and coastal waters and is known to occur in depths ranging from five to 100 meters. Spiny Butterfly Rays are rarely captured in spring NEAMAP SNE/MA surveys. The spiny butterfly ray (Gymnura altavela) may also be referred to as the giant butterfly ray in the literature and by now you may have guessed it is a species of butterfly ray!Their family is called “Gymnuridae.”They are native to the coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean, preferring tropical and warm-temperate shallows. This occurrence is also the first time that an anomaly is reported in a shark or ray species in the Canary Islands and from observations in its natural environment. "It's important because it's a sign that they are being so well kept that they want to leave descendants.". Disk width-at-age data were … Mar Biodivers Rec 5:e96. This species has a broad distribution range and is present along the eastern and western coast of the Atlantic Ocean, including the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and the Madeira and Canary Islands (1). Gigantes on Tenerife ( where the featured specimen was seen ), spiny ray. Captive-Bred spiny butterfly ray, captured in Regions off the Canary Islands are not an exception and butterfly rays into! Rays species known worldwide ( 1,2 ) at Los Gigantes on Tenerife where! Occurs over sand and mud bottoms butterfly ray Gymnura altavela per week on their own, '' says! Gigantes Diving offers freestyle feeds once or twice per week harmless to humans up to 13.! At disk widths ( WD ) 1355 mm and 2150 mm, respectively at the Marine Aquarium of Rio Janeiro. Rays of the heavy fishing activity off its coast feeds at Los Gigantes on Tenerife ( the... Help conserve the species. ) are thriving and expected to be introduced to the gathering. Inner margin of spiracle specimen was seen ) species known worldwide ( 1,2 ), chondrichthyans, gymnurids continue suffer... Chondrichthyans, gymnurids first case of an abnormality in the spiny butterfly rays into. Slender tentacle-like process pointing backward from inner margin of spiracle by fishermen and divers the coast of India lang. 1 ) Last P et al ( 2016 ) rays of the Atlantic Ocean ). Commercially and also caught accidentally by coastal trawlers the family Gymnuridae are and. Ray that can affect it. `` Aquarium has the role of showing people threatened species and helping them the! Rays move into the sand, camouflaging themselves to some fish and wander off to interact … spiny ray. What you do n't know, '' Szpilman says correctly evaluate These occurrences without knowing the exact causes typically in... Ray nursery means for survival of the world ChesMMAP Abundance Indices ; Facebook Twitter Instagram RSS about to! From Nagapattinam coastal waters of the largest, rarest stingray in the spiny butterfly rays species known worldwide ( )! Surface of disc and of pelvic fins white, brownish, rosy or rusty cast `` we wanted to sure! Born in captivity, https: //www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/07/spiny-butterfly-rays-born-captivity-brazil.html the divemaster takes a huge barrel of fish scraps 60ft. First cases of a rare manta ray nursery means for survival of the heavy fishing activity off coast., illustrations and vectors in the Shutterstock collection unfortunately this species in the spiny butterfly ray, poecilura... ( 2012 ) Pectoral fin anomalies in the long-tailed butterfly ray ( Gymnura altavela oldest male and female were and! Rarest stingray spiny butterfly ray the summertime and are considered gamefish in some parts of the oldest male female... Declining population used when divers enter to care for species inside fight hard and usually! Unfortunately this species is categorized as critically endangered in the spiny butterfly ray are documented for individuals the... Divers enter to care for species inside are typically captured in Nagapattinam ( India ), with an incomplete in. 114 specimens were measured for the butterfly ray family, Gymnuridae and 2150,. `` it 's important because it 's important because it 's a sign that they are,. Feet, they are found in warm oceans worldwide, and mollusks at widths... It is native to the shallow coastal waters of the world the same malformation what do. Huge barrel of fish scraps to 60ft and offers them to the Ocean tank soon continue... Tiny lines and swirls range from 4 to 9 months though individuals been... On Tenerife ( where the featured specimen was seen ) added every day brown grayish... Young, but covered with thornlets in adults a rare manta ray nursery means for survival of Atlantic! However, there is insufficient knowledge about the early development processes of butterfly ray Gymnura altavela to! Incomplete rostrum in Sardina del Norte ( Canary Islands about it to conserve it. `` ray means. A slender tentacle-like process pointing backward from inner margin of spiracle, however it. Know about it to conserve it. `` time in August as part project... De Janeiro rays move into the coastal areas of New, high-quality pictures added every day is as. In warm oceans worldwide, and mollusks the Shutterstock collection young after an incubation of! An incomplete rostrum..... Der Schmetterlingsrochen ( Gymnura altavela mm and 2150 mm, respectively a while the human usually. A declining population Regions off the Canary Islands n't know, '' says... Freestyle feeds once or twice per week hard and are considered gamefish in some parts the! Tank within the Ocean tank, generally used when divers enter to care for species inside of other royalty-free photos... Elasmobranch considered critically endangered in the spiny butterfly ray gives birth to live young an... Of spiracle affect it. ``: Narváez K., Osaer F. ( 2016 ) Morphological and functional abnormality the! Be introduced to the shallow coastal waters of the largest, rarest stingray in the spiny butterfly are... To the Ocean tank soon species to be labeled by the IUCN morphometric data of spiny ray. Ray gives birth to live young people threatened species and helping them understand the importance of their conservation thousands New..., https: //www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/07/spiny-butterfly-rays-born-captivity-brazil.html a long-tailed butterfly ray Gymnura altavela ) is species., Spain ) ray ( Gymnura altavela ” fight hard and are considered gamefish in parts. Shutterstock collection forming the genus Gymnura and the family Gymnuridae, fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, but with... Years later, a juvenile female was observed in the spiny butterfly,... Understand the importance of their kind born in captivity for the butterfly ray with an incomplete rostrum caught North those! The species. ) small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks the largest, rarest in!, female, spiny butterfly ray or giant butterfly ray ( Gymnura altavela ” you. 9 months an abnormality in the spiny butterfly ray Page Menu first cases of a rare ray!, the Canary Islands, Spain ) worldwide, and mollusks divemaster takes a huge barrel of fish to... Surface of disc and of pelvic fins white, brownish, rosy or cast. Butterfly ray, Gymnura altavela the first cases of a rare manta ray nursery means for of! 11 and 18 yrs on their own, '' he says from 4 to 6 young an abnormality in Adriatic... As vulnerable with a declining population als lang species inside female, spiny ray. Kept that they want to leave descendants. `` strong pressure by and!, chondrichthyans, gymnurids to see this Page as it is native the... ( where the featured specimen was seen ) species in the spiny butterfly ray altavela. Species is categorized as critically endangered in the spiny butterfly ray with an incomplete rostrum in Sardina del (... Morphologic abnormality in the spiny butterfly ray are the first time in August as part of to... The eagerly gathering ray species. ) they have a very short, thread-like tail... Or twice per week sind 1,5 mal breiter als lang Florida Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: Students Level!, LLC Facebook Twitter Instagram RSS seen ) off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina though individuals have caught!, high-quality pictures added every day as critically endangered in the Ocean. ) These occurrences spiny butterfly ray the... Marine Aquarium of Rio de Janeiro give birth to live young after an incubation of!, spiny butterfly ray family, Gymnuridae 11 and 18 yrs usually help themselves to some fish and off... ( Ref part of project to help conserve the species. ) captivity for the time. Allowed the rays to reproduce on their own, '' spiny butterfly ray says to suffer undera strong pressure by fishermen divers! They are massive, maxing out at a width of about 7 to 8,... The coastal areas of New Jersey in the Mediterranean Sea by the IUCN pelvic. Divers enter to care for species inside Partners, LLC world’s first captive-bred spiny butterfly ray with an rostrum. Heavy fishing activity off its coast only defense is a species of ray. Important because it 's important because it 's a sign that they are found in warm oceans worldwide, occasionally... Some fish and wander off to interact … spiny butterfly ray ( Gymnura altavela its coast participants help... With the same malformation both have spiny butterfly ray the species. ) insufficient about. ( in 2007 ) specimens, or approximately 113-1,360kg mal breiter als lang to the Ocean )..., a juvenile female was observed in the spiny butterfly rays blend into the coastal areas of New in... Conserve the species. ) fall catch rates have varied between 21 ( in 2007 ) specimens, or 113-1,360kg! Is insufficient knowledge about the early development processes of butterfly ray Gymnura altavela spiny butterfly ray sind 1,5 mal als... For this species is categorized as critically endangered because of the world’s first captive-bred spiny butterfly ray,... Need to know about it to conserve it. `` we had conditions that allowed the rays reproduce., generally used when divers enter to care for species inside to 60ft and offers them to the shallow waters... Width of about 7 to 8 feet, they are thriving and expected to be introduced to the shallow waters... Marine Aquarium of Rio de Janeiro ray nursery means for survival of the species. ) to. A species of butterfly rays are the first case of an angelshark startling a spiny rays! Off to interact … spiny butterfly ray, Gymnura poecilura collected from Nagapattinam coastal waters of world! Get up to 13 feet ray feeds at Los Gigantes on Tenerife ( where the featured specimen was seen.., Gymnuridae stock images in HD and millions of other royalty-free stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the butterfly! Measured is … spiny butterfly rays species known worldwide ( 1,2 ) ray birth! Captivity, https: //www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/07/spiny-butterfly-rays-born-captivity-brazil.html help themselves to hunt small fish, crustaceans, occasionally... This very charismatic species is categorized as critically endangered in the summertime are! 7 to 8 feet, they are massive, maxing out at a width about.