Butterfly Rays
Butterfly rays are members of Gymnuridae family. They are mainly found from the intertidal to the offshore shelf on soft bottom down to a depth of 110m, in all warm-temperate and tropical continental seas. They can be recognized by having large rounded-rhomboidal pectoral discs and short slender whip-like tails without caudal fins. Almost all butterfly rays species dorsal surface of disc and pelvic fins colour are brown, grey, or greenish above, and generally whitish below. They may or may not have spine in their tail.
Butterfly rays are slow-swimming bottom-dwellers, often found on soft mud or sand. They feed on bottom crustaceans including crabs and shrimp, bivalves, and small bottom fishes.
There is only one genus and about 16 species of butterfly rays worldwide. Malaysia is represented by 4 species.
Butterfly rays are slow-swimming bottom-dwellers, often found on soft mud or sand. They feed on bottom crustaceans including crabs and shrimp, bivalves, and small bottom fishes.
There is only one genus and about 16 species of butterfly rays worldwide. Malaysia is represented by 4 species.
Scientific Name: Gymnura micrura (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
English Name: Smooth Butterfly Ray, Short-tailed Butterfly Ray, Diamond Skate
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 魟鱼 (Hōng yú), 魔鬼鱼 (Móguǐ yú), 小尾燕魟 (Xiǎo wěi yàn hóng)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Pari Kelawar, Pari Temirka, Pari Tembikar, Pari-kelawar Licin
Local Hokkien: Hung Heur
Local Teochew: Hung Hu
Size: Maximum disc width 137 cm, common disc width 90.0 cm.
Main Identification Features: Broad, diamond-shaped ray with a very short tail that do not have dorsal spine. Snout protruding. Front edges of disk concave. Tail with low dorsal and ventral finfolds and 3 - 4 dark crossbars. Upper surface with round spots, varies greatly in color, either gray, brown or light green.
Habitat and Ecology: Usually found on soft bottoms in shallow seas, subtidal aquatic beds, estuarine waters, and coastal saline lagoons to 40 m depth. Feeds on fish, shrimps and clams.
Remarks: Be very careful when handling all types of ray.
Scientific Name: Gymnura poecilura (Shaw, 1804)
English Name: Long-tailed Butterfly Ray
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 魟鱼 (Hōng yú), 魔鬼鱼 (Móguǐ yú), 花尾燕魟 (Huāwěi yàn hóng)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Pari Kelawar, Pari Tembikar, Pari Kelawar Bintik
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระเบนผีเสื้อ (Plāk ra ben p̄hīs̄eụ̄̂x)
Size: Maximum total length at least 66 cm, maximum disc width at least 82 cm.
Main Identification Features: No dorsal fin, or a rudimentary dorsal fin. Tail without sting with about 9 black bands. Tail length about equal to snout-vent length. Dorsal surface usually plain, sometimes with faint pale spots.
Habitat and Ecology: Shallow inshore waters, muddy and sandy bottoms, to 30 m depth. Feeds on fishes, molluscs and crustaceans.
Remarks: Be very careful when handling all types of ray.
English Name: Smooth Butterfly Ray, Short-tailed Butterfly Ray, Diamond Skate
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 魟鱼 (Hōng yú), 魔鬼鱼 (Móguǐ yú), 小尾燕魟 (Xiǎo wěi yàn hóng)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Pari Kelawar, Pari Temirka, Pari Tembikar, Pari-kelawar Licin
Local Hokkien: Hung Heur
Local Teochew: Hung Hu
Size: Maximum disc width 137 cm, common disc width 90.0 cm.
Main Identification Features: Broad, diamond-shaped ray with a very short tail that do not have dorsal spine. Snout protruding. Front edges of disk concave. Tail with low dorsal and ventral finfolds and 3 - 4 dark crossbars. Upper surface with round spots, varies greatly in color, either gray, brown or light green.
Habitat and Ecology: Usually found on soft bottoms in shallow seas, subtidal aquatic beds, estuarine waters, and coastal saline lagoons to 40 m depth. Feeds on fish, shrimps and clams.
Remarks: Be very careful when handling all types of ray.
Scientific Name: Gymnura poecilura (Shaw, 1804)
English Name: Long-tailed Butterfly Ray
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 魟鱼 (Hōng yú), 魔鬼鱼 (Móguǐ yú), 花尾燕魟 (Huāwěi yàn hóng)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Pari Kelawar, Pari Tembikar, Pari Kelawar Bintik
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากระเบนผีเสื้อ (Plāk ra ben p̄hīs̄eụ̄̂x)
Size: Maximum total length at least 66 cm, maximum disc width at least 82 cm.
Main Identification Features: No dorsal fin, or a rudimentary dorsal fin. Tail without sting with about 9 black bands. Tail length about equal to snout-vent length. Dorsal surface usually plain, sometimes with faint pale spots.
Habitat and Ecology: Shallow inshore waters, muddy and sandy bottoms, to 30 m depth. Feeds on fishes, molluscs and crustaceans.
Remarks: Be very careful when handling all types of ray.
