BioMed Central vía DOI 10.1186/s41200-016-0085-7 “Morphological and functional abnormality in the spiny butterfly ray Gymnura altavela”. Source: Suresh T.V., Raffi S.M. This very charismatic species is categorized as Critically Endangered in the Mediterranean Sea by the IUCN. Morphometric data of spiny butterfly ray are the first for this species in the Adriatic Sea. Mar Biodivers Rec 9:95. After a while the human participants usually help themselves to some fish and wander off to interact … Zootaxa. 7251 ). However, there is insufficient knowledge about the early development processes of butterfly rays and the factors that can affect it. "We wanted to make sure we had conditions that allowed the rays to reproduce on their own," Szpilman says. The birth took place in a smaller tank within the Ocean Tank, generally used when divers enter to care for species inside. The spiny butterfly is a ray from the family Gymnuridae, characterized by its very broad disk, resembling a wide triangle in its shape. Spiny Butterfly Ray. Spiny Butterfly Ray (Gymnura altavela) Ranging from Massachusetts to Argentina, they prefer sandy bottoms, estuaries, or rocky reef faces from 2 - 100 meters (7 - 238 feet) deep. 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. In all, 114 specimens were measured for Materials and methods. The reproductive biology and diet of the longtail butterfly ray Gymnura poecilura is described based on 630 specimens (N = 377 females and 253 males). Spiny butterfly ray, Gymnura altavela According to regional regulation, this critically endangered ray, which plays an important role in seabed ecosystems, should not be landed or sold. MATURITY, REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE, AND FECUNDITY OF SPINY BUTTERFLY RAY, GYMNURA ALTAVELA (ELASMOBRANCHII: RAJIFORMES: GYMNURIDAE), FROM THE COAST OF SYRIA (EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN) Video of an angelshark startling a spiny butterfly ray in Sardina del Norte (Canary Islands, Spain). Description, classification, synonyms, distribution map and images of Gymnura altavela - Spiny butterfly ray Source: Florida Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: High School Teacher Section: Yes. The embryos initially subsist on a yolk sac; later in development long villi develop from the uterine wall into the embryos' spiracles, which direct uterine milk into the oral cavity. Litter sizes usually range from 4 to 6 young. Almost a year after the historic birth of five spiny butterfly rays at the Marine Aquarium of Rio de Janeiro (AquaRio), biologists and veterinarians are preparing to welcome another round of little ones to the family. The Spiny Butterfly Ray, also known as Giant Butterfly Ray is a species in the order of the Myliobatiformes, and thus belongs to the subclass of the Elasmobranchii. The butterfly ray is an active predator. The Spiny butterfly ray is listed as a vulnerable species across all itsdistribution range by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2016). 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. Spiny Butterfly Ray - Gymnura altavela In the western Atlantic Ocean, the spiny butterfly ray is found from southern New England to Brazil. They fight hard and are considered gamefish in some parts of the world. 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. This website sets cookies on your device. But unfortunately this species is not yet on the national protected species list in Turkey. Classification: vertebrates, fish, chondrichthyans, gymnurids. The spiny butterfly ray or giant butterfly ray (Gymnura altavela) is a species of butterfly ray family, Gymnuridae. The spiny butterfly ray Gymnura altavela is one of 12 butterfly rays species known worldwide(1,2). Scientific synonyms. The spiny butterfly ray or giant butterfly ray (Gymnura altavela) is a species of butterfly ray family, Gymnuridae. 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. 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. While they are massive, maxing out at a width of about 7 to 8 feet, they are harmless to humans. "We wanted to make sure we had conditions that allowed the rays to reproduce on their own," Szpilman says. This ray generally occurs over sand and mud bottoms. Tail white or rosy white below (Ref. 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. Please email Elasmodiver for commercial rates. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- Tenbel, Tenerife, 100cm, 10 2018 | FishBase link: http://www.fishbase.us/summary/Gymnura-altavela.html | Uploaded by: Martin Vranken They were bred in captivity for the … The Giant Butterfly Ray (Gymnura altavela) is a species of concern belonging in the species group "fishes" and found in the following area(s): Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, Middle East, North America (including United States), South America. Spiny Butterfly Rays are rarely captured in spring NEAMAP SNE/MA surveys. Background. Spiny Butterfly Ray. Send article to Kindle. Thousands of new, high-quality pictures added every day. The butterfly rays are the rays forming the genus Gymnura and the family Gymnuridae. Eine Spannweite von 2,5 Meter ist möglich. Occasionally spiny butterfly rays attend the organized ray feeds at Los Gigantes on Tenerife (where the featured specimen was seen). However, it is not possible to correctly evaluate these occurrences without knowing the exact causes. No matter how, both cases are remarkable for their striking similarity with the one from a butterfly ray species off India; the long-tailed butterfly ray G. poecilura. Spiny butterfly rays move into the coastal areas of New Jersey in the summertime and are usually caught by anglers fishing for sharks. 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. The other threat hindering their population is pollution. Source: Narváez K., Osaer F. (2016) Morphological and functional abnormality in the spiny butterfly ray Gymnura altavela. The spiny butterfly ray, Gymnura altavela, is an elasmobranch considered critically endangered in the Mediterranean by the IUCN. The wing span of a spiny butterfly ray can get up to 13 feet. And if for some reason they don't, he's sure the work of the AquaRio team has helped the spiny butterfly ray take one step away from extinction. Yet, the large size of the adult, and observations of preying, camouflage and locomotion during two years confirm that the individual was capable to compensate successfully for these handicaps. Captures of Gymnura altavela from the Syrian marine waters allowed to improve knowledge of size at first sexuality of males and females, reproductive period and fecundity. An adult, female, spiny butterfly ray with an incomplete rostrum in Sardina del Norte (Canary Islands, Spain). 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