| Family: | Gymnuridae (Butterfly rays) |
AquaMaps | | ||
| Order: | Rajiformes (skates and rays) | |||
| Class: | Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) | |||
| In this site name: | Spiny butterfly ray | |||
| Max. size: | 400 cm WD (male/unsexed; Ref. 3709); max. published weight: 60.0 kg (Ref. 4699) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 5 – 100 m | |||
| Climate: | subtropical; 44°N - 35°S | |||
| Importance: | fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes | |||
| Resilience: | Very low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec 4-7) | |||
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Distribution:
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Western Atlantic: southern New England, USA to Brazil (Ref. 7251). Eastern Atlantic: Portugal to Ambriz, Angola (including the Mediterranean, Black Sea, and the Madeira and Canary islands). | |||
| Morphology: | Tail short armed with spine. Disk very broad. Very low dorsal and ventral finfolds on tail (Ref. 7251). Disk dark brown to grayish, lower surface of disc and of pelvic fins white, brownish, rosy or rusty cast. Tail white or rosy white below (Ref. 6902). | |||
| Biology: | Maximum length measured is 140 cm (Ref. 5377). Occurs over sand and mud. Feeds on fishes, crustaceans, mollusks and plankton. Ovoviviparous, gestation lasting about 6 months with 4 to 7 embryos produced per female. | |||
| Red List Status: | Not in IUCN Red List (Ref. 57073) | |||
| Dangerous: | harmless | |||
| Coordinator: | McEachran, John | |||
