Arabic whipray
📖 Overview
Arabic whipray (Maculabatis arabica), first described by Matsumoto & Last, 2016 is a fish in the family Dasyatidae (order Myliobatiformes). It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 15 to 29 metres. It occurs in Tropical waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Critically Endangered.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Vertebrae: 102 - 111. This species (with size at least 63 cm DW) is distinguished by this set of the characters: disc is broadly rhomboidal, its length 89-93% DW; snout is moderately elongate with small apical lobe, snout angle 113-121°; pectoral-fin apices are narrowly rounded; orbits small, protruding slightly; mouth is relatively narrow, its width 1.1-1.6 in internasal width; the distance between first gill slits 2.1-2.3 times internasal distance; distance between fifth gill slits is 1.4-1.5 times internasal distance, 28--30% of ventral head length; pelvic-fin base is narrow, 12-13% DW; a small yellow, seed-shaped suprascapular denticle followed by a slightly larger white, heart-shaped denticle; weak primary denticle band present in young but soon becoming inconspicuous; secondary denticle band is irregularly suboval, relatively narrow with well-defined lateral margins, rounded forward of orbit and not extending lateral to orbit even in large adults; adults with a broad band near tail base; dorsal disc uniformly brownish (lacking white spots); ventral disc pale with broad, weakly-defined and slightly darker margins; anterior tail light-brown on dorsal surface and usually without white lateral spots; tail banded dorsally behind caudal-sting base, bands more obscure or absent with age; pectoral-fin radials 127-135; total vertebral count, including synarcual centra 102-111, monospondylous centra 41-47, pre-sting diplospondylous centra 55-68 .: other (see remarks); Cross section: flattened.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Arabic whipray is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; demersal; depth range 15 - 29 m . Tropical Indian Ocean: Pakistan to India, in the Arabian Sea (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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