Summary ³

The smooth butterfly ray (Gymnura micrura) is a species of fish in the Gymnuridae family. It is found in Belize, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Gambia, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are shallow seas, subtidal aquatic beds, estuarine waters, and coastal saline lagoons.

Biology ⁴

Prefers neritic waters of the continental shelf and usually found on soft bottoms. May enter brackish estuaries or hyper-saline lagoons (Ref. 5217). Feeds on fish and shrimps (Ref. 28587). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Generally marketed salted (Ref. 5217).

Distribution ⁵

north of Maryland to Brazil

Size ⁶

Maximum size: 1370 mm WD

Diagnostic description ⁷

Broad, diamond-shaped ray with a very short tail lacking a dorsal spine (Ref. 26938). Snout protruding. Front edges of disk concave. Tail with low dorsal and ventral finfolds and 3 - 4 dark crossbars (Ref. 7251). Upper surface gray, brown, light green or purple with round spots. Lower surface white (Ref. 6902).

Habitat ⁸

benthic

Diet ⁹

Feeds on fish and shrimps

Life cycle ¹⁰

Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures (Ref. 50449). Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).

Link to Access Genomic Data ¹¹

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=558709&lvl=0

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Sean Loyless, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gymnura_micrura.jpg
2. (c) bathyporeia, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/81858878@N00/11754042556/
3. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnura_micrura
4. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) FishBase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/20978591
5. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) WoRMS for SMEBD, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/28471480
6. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) FishWise Professional, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/24190330
7. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) FishBase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/20978592
8. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) WoRMS for SMEBD, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/28475411
9. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) WoRMS for SMEBD, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/28476549
10. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) FishBase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/20978595
11. (c) matbio, all rights reserved

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• FishBase
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• VertNet
• World Register of Marine Species

Range Map

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