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 color 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.
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Scientific Name: Gymnura poecilura (Shaw, 1804) English Name: Long-tailed Butterfly Ray Mandarin Name: 魟鱼 (Hōng yú), 魔鬼鱼 (Móguǐ yú), 花尾燕魟 (Huāwěi yàn hóng) Local Malay Name: Ikan Pari Kelawar, Pari Tembikar, Pari Kelawar Bintik Size: Maximum total length at least 66 cm, maximum width at least 82 cm Main Diagnostic Features: No dorsal fin, or a rudimentary dorsal fin. About 9 black bands on tail. Remarks: Be very careful when handling all types of ray.  |