Longtail Butterfly Ray [Gymnura poecilura]
Description
The longtail butterfly ray, also known as the long-tailed fanskate, is a species of butterfly ray in the family Gymnuridae. They are predominantly found in the tropical waters of the western Indian Ocean, including off the coasts of Somalia and South Africa. They are characterized by their extremely long tails relative to their disc width, which can be almost 3 times the length of the body. These rays habitually reside in shallow inshore waters and are known to have a diet primarily consisting of crustaceans and small fish. They are ovoviviparous, with females giving birth to live young. The longtail butterfly ray is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to overfishing.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Cartilaginous Fish
Chondrichthyes
|
| Order |
Stingrays
Myliobatiformes
|
| Family |
Butterfly Rays
Gymnuridae
|
| Genus |
Longtail Butterfly Ray
Pteroplatytrygon
|