Rays Flashcards
(171 cards)
1
Q
What are the identifying characteristics of an oceanic manta Ray?
A
- up to 7 m
- White shoulder patches that form T shape
- Black band between eyes and forebody
- Additional dark patches along the trailing edge of individual gill slit
- Spine remnant at base of tail
2
Q
What are the identifying characteristics of a Reef Manta Ray?
A
- up to 5 m
- White shoulder patches form a Y shape
- Terminal mouth with cephalic fins
- Underside with black spots to be unique pattern to each individual
- Lack of spine remnant
3
Q
What are the identifying characteristics of a Spinetail Devil Ray?
A
- up to 3.2 m
- Can be solitary but often in groups
- Dorsal side has wide slightly curving black bamd between eyes and forebody
- Single spines on base of tail
- “Mini Manta” cephalic fins
4
Q
What are the characteristics of a sicklefin devil ray?
A
- Olive-green or brown dorsal surface
- Grey ventral shading on posterior margin of pectoral fins
- Distinctive pronounced ridge along dorsal midline
5
Q
What classification are rays?
A
The largest subgroup of the chondrichtyan fishes
6
Q
How many families and species of rays are there?
A
- 26 families
- over 630 species
7
Q
What families are we interested in in IOP?
A
- Dasyatidae (whiprays)
- Aetobatidae (eagle rays)
- Mobulidae (mobula rays)
- Rhinopteridae (cownose rays)
8
Q
What are the three main concepts in the importance of rays to coral ecosystem?
A
- Eat = benthic rays feed on bottom-dwelling species, such as sea snails, clams, oysters and crabs. They also eat worms, shrimps and some fish. The related manta ray filter feeds plankton.
- Prey = The main predator to smaller stingrays in tropical waters are sharks and larger fish. Only the largest sharks will prey on the larger ray species.
- Poop = Cycles nutrients and distributes them throughout the ecosystem.
9
Q
How to rays and skates reproduce?
A
They separate sexes and fertilisation is internal. Males transfer sperm to females and they eventually give birth to live young or lay large leathery eggs.
10
Q
What are a male ray’s sex organs called?
A
Claspers - two external sex organs called claspers located beneath the body
11
Q
How do rays mate?
A
The male uses one of their claspers to transfer sperm into the cloaca (opening) of the female
12
Q
What is the gestation period for rays?
A
Around 9 months.
For most species the female will carry the young with in her body for around 9 months before giving birth to up to 15 live young rays, that will swim and hunt with the mother
13
Q
What is different regarding reproduction for manta ray species?
A
The manta ray species will give birth to only 1 live pup that is birthed wrapped up like a burrito with a wingspan of around 1.5 m as a new born
14
Q
How do some other ray species reproduce?
A
- Egg laying species will lay a mermaids purse which will hatch to produce juvenile rays that look like small adults
15
Q
What is the survival rate of newborn rays?
A
Most rays that have been studied grow slowly, and maybe only 1 in 10 rays survive the 8 years it takes for them to reach sexual maturity
16
Q
What is the lifespan of rays?
A
Up to 30 years
17
Q
Why is it important rays are not heavily fished?
A
Because they grown slowly and produce only a small number of young each year
18
Q
What are some threats to rays?
A
- Rays are fished using spears and baited hooks and lines for meat for local consumption
- The gill rakers of larger rays (mantas and mobulas) are taken and dried for use in traditional medicine
- Bycatch in commerical fisheries
- Habitat destruction, climate change and other anthropogenic pressures.
19
Q
What is protection like for rays in Indonesia?
A
- Fully protected mobula birostris (giant oceanic manta) and mobula alfredi (Reef manta) within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which is nearly 6 million square kilometres
- However, other species are not protected
20
Q
What are the colour morphs that manta species show?
A
- Manta species show two further colour morphs that no other species exhibits
1. Chevron (regular) 2. Melanistic (Black morph) 3. Leucistic (white/pale morph)
21
Q
What is chevron?
A
- Chevron is the regular colouration of manta species.
- Dorsal side is black with white on the head and tips of the fins
- Ventral side is white with spot markings
22
Q
What is melanistic?
A
- Melanistic is the black morph shown in manta species
- Dorsal side is completely black
- Ventral side is black with white patches
23
Q
What is Leucistic?
A
- Leucistic is the white/pale morph of the manta species (not albino)
- Both dorsal and ventral side are white with some darker patches
24
Q
What is the maximum size of an oceanic manta ray?
A
up to 7 m
25
What is the scientific name of an oceanic manta ray?
Mobula birostris
26
Where are oceanic manta rays found?
Normally in the outer reef or open ocean
27
What is the group size of the oceanic manta ray?
Mainly solitary or in small groups
28
What is the appearance of the oceanic manta ray?
- White shoulder patches that form a T shape
- Black band between the eyes and the forebody
- Additional dark patches along the trailing edge of individual gill slits
29
What is the distinguishing feature on the oceanic manta ray?
Spine remnant on base of tail
30
What is the occurrence of the Oceanic Manta Ray in Bira?
- Extremely Rare
31
What is the position in the water column of the Oceanic Manta Ray?
- Pelagic
- Benthopelagic (In or around the reef)
32
What is the IUCN status of the oceanic manta ray?
- Endangered
33
What is the scientific name for the reef manta ray?
- Mobula Alfredi
34
What is the size of the reef manta?
Up to 5 m, juveniles from 1.5 m
35
Where do you find reef mantas?
- Shallow shelf and reef habitats
36
What is the group size of the reef manta?
Can be found both solitary and in groups
37
What is the appearance of a reef manta?
- White shoulder patches for a Y shape
- Terminal mouth with cephalic fins
- Underside with black spots to be unique pattern to each individual
38
What is the distinguishing feature of reef manta rays?
- Lack of spine remnant on tail
39
What is the occurrence of reef mantas in Bira?
Rare
40
Where in the water column do you find reef mantas?
- Benthopelagic (In or around the reef)
41
What is the IUCN status of reef mantas?
- Vulnerable
42
What is the scientific name of a Spinetail Devil Ray?
Mobula Mobular
43
What is the maximum size of a Spinetail Devil Ray?
- Up to 3.2 m
44
Where do you find Spinetail Devil Rays?
- In the outer reef to the open ocean
45
What is the group size of the Spinetail Devil ray?
- Can be solitary but commonly in groups
46
What is the appearance of the Spinetail Devil Ray?
- Dorsal side has wide slightly curving black band between eyes and the forebody
- Single spines on the base of the tail
47
What is the distinguishing feature of a Spinetail Devil Ray?
"Mni Manta", Cephalic fins
48
What is the occurrence of the Spinetail Devil Ray in Bira?
- Extremely Rare
49
What position in the water column are Spinetail Devil rays?
- Pelagic
- Benthopelagic (in or around the reef)
50
What is the IUCN status for the Spinetail Devil Ray?
Endangered
51
What is the scientific name for the Sicklefin Devil Ray?
Mobula tarapacana
52
What is the maximum size of a Sicklefin devil ray?
up to 3.2 m
53
Where do you find Sicklefin Devil rays?
In the outer reef to the open ocean
54
What group size do you find the Sicklefin Devil Ray in?
Commonly in groups but can be solitary
55
What is the appearance of the sicklefin devil ray?
- Olive-green or brown dorsal surface
- Grey ventral shading on the posterior margin of the pectoral fins
- distinctive pronounced ridge along dorsal midline
56
What is the distinguishing feature of the Sicklefin Devil Ray?
- Dorsal surface colour (Olive-green or brown)
57
What is the occurrence of the Sicklefin Devil Ray in Bira?
Extremely rare
58
What is the position in the water column of the Sicklefin devil ray?
- Pelagic
- Benthopelagic (in and around the reef)
59
what is the IUCN status of the Sicklefin Devil Ray?
- Endangered
60
What is the scientific name of the Shorthorned Pygmy Devil Ray?
Mobula Kuhlii
61
What is the maximum size of the Shorthorned Pygmy devil ray?
- Up to 1.2 m
62
Where do you find the shorthorned pygmy devil ray?
Costal reef to open ocean
63
Do you find the shorthorned pygmy devil ray solitary or in groups?
- Mainly found in groups
64
What is the appearance of the Shorthorned Pygmy Devil Ray?
- Dorsal colouring from mauve to light grey and brown
- Dark collar in a half moon shape from side to side above spiracles
- Often possessing a white-tipped dorsal fin
- Short necked appearance
65
What is the occurrence of the Shorthorned Pygmy devil ray in Bira?
- Uncommon
66
Where in the water column do you find the Shorthorned Pygmy devil ray?
- Pelagic
- Benthopelagic (in or around the reef)
67
What is the IUCN status for the Shorthorned Pygmy devil ray?
- Endangered
68
What is the scientific name of the Longhorned Pygmy devil ray?
Mobula eregoodoo
69
What is the maximum size of the Longhorned Pygmy devil ray?
up to 1 m
70
Where do you find the Longhorned Pygmy devil ray?
Mainly in the open ocean (pelagic)
71
Do you find the Longhorned Pygmy devil ray in groups in solitary?
- Commonly in schools but can be solitary
72
What is the appearance of the Longhorned Pygmy devil ray?
- Dorsal surface is brown with a dark brown or grey stripe along the anterior margin of pectoral fins
- The ventral surface is white with a dark-grey to black triangular shape on the midpoint of the leading edge of the pectoral fin.
73
What is the distinguishing feature on the Longhorned Pygmy devil ray?
Triangular black shading on the ventral side, at the mid-point of the leading edge of the pectoral fin
74
What is the occurrence of the Longhorned Pygmy devil ray in Bira?
Extremely Rare
75
What is the position of the Longhorned Pygmy Devil Ray in the water column?
- Pelagic
- Benthopelagic (in or around the reef)
76
What is the IUCN status of the Longhorned Pygmy devil ray?
Endangered
77
What is the scientific name of the Bentfin Devil ray?
Mobula thurstoni (Lloyd, 1908)
78
What is the maximum size of the Bentfin Devil Ray?
up to 2.2 m
79
Where do you find the Bentfin Devil ray?
Costal and open ocean
80
Are the Bentfin Devil rays in groups or solitary?
Solitary or in small groups
81
What is the appearance of the Bentfin Devil Ray?
- Dorsal colour is dark mauve to blue-grey
- Thick black band on the top of the head that stretches from eye to eye
- Ventral surface is white with a silver-brown sheen on the distal ends of the pectoral fins
- Anterior margin of the pectoral fins have a distinctive double curvature with black-grey shading on curve (Bentfin)
82
What is the occurrence of the Bentfin Devil Ray in Bira?
Extremely rare
83
What is the position in the water column of the Bentfin Devil Ray?
- Pelagic
- Benthopelagic (Reef)
84
What is the IUCN status of the Bentfin Devil ray?
- Endangered
85
What is the scientific name of the spotted eagle ray?
Aetobatus ocellatus (Kuhl, 1823)
86
What is the maximum size of the spotted eagle ray?
Up to 3 m but commonly up to 1.5 m
87
Where do you find the spotted eagle ray?
In the outer reef to the open ocean
88
Do you find the spotted eagle ray in groups or solitary?
Solitary or in small groups
89
What is the appearance of the spotted eagle ray?
- Grey-brown
- Numerous white spots and white ventral side
- Triangular wings
- Protruding head
- Multiple spines
90
What is the distinguishing feature of the spotted eagle ray?
Spotted dorsal side
91
What is the occurrence of the spotted eagle ray in Bira?
common
92
What is the position in the water column of the spotted eagle ray?
- Benthopelgaic (reef)
- pelagic
93
What is the IUCN status of the spotted eagle ray?
Vulnerable
94
What is the scientific name for the Javanese Cownose Ray?
Rhinoptera Javanica (Muller & Henle, 1841)
95
What is the maximum size of the Javanese Cownose Ray?
up to 1.5 m
96
Where do you find the Javanese Cownose ray?
Outer reefs to the open ocean
97
Do you find the Javanese Cownose Ray in groups or solitary?
Solitary
98
What is the appearance of the Javanese Cownose Ray?
- Brown dorsal and white ventral side
- Protruding head
- Short slender tail
- Single Spines
99
What is the distinguishing feature of the Javanese Cownose Ray?
Body shape
100
What is the occurrence of the Javanese Cownose Ray in Bira?
Extremely rare
101
Where in the water column do you find the Javanese Cownose Ray?
- Pelagic
- Benthopelagic (reef)
102
What is the IUCN status of the Javanese Cownose Ray?
Vulnerable
103
What is the scientific name of the Tahitian Stingray / Pink Whipray?
Pateobatis Fai (Jordan & Seale, 1906)
104
What is the maximum size of the Tahitian Stingray/ pink whipray?
up to 1.8 m
105
Where do you find the Tahitian Stingray/ Pink Whipray?
Benthic, associated with the reef and sandy bottoms
106
Do you find the Tahitian Stingray / pink Whipray in groups or solitary?
Solitary or form schools, known to 'piggyback' onto other species of rays
107
What is the appearance of the Tahitian Stingray / pink whipray?
- light grey to pinkish brown, occasionally blotched or mottled
- Snout blunty pointed
- Rounded 'wings' and long tapered tail
108
What is the distinguishing feature of the Tahitian stingray/ pink whipray?
- Long tail
- No spines along the back, if spines are present then it is a Jenkins whipray
109
What is the occurrence of the Tahitian stingray/ pink whipray in Bira?
Rare
110
Where in the water column do you find the Tahitian stingray / pink whipray?
Benthic
111
What is the IUCN status of the Tahitian Stingray/ Pink Whipray?
Vulnerable
112
What is the scientific name of the Jenkins Whipray?
Pateobatis jenkinsii (Annandale, 1909)
113
What is the maximum size of the Jenkins Whipray?
up to 1.3 m
114
Where do you find the Jenkins whipray?
Benthic, associated with reefs and sandy bottoms
115
Do you find the Jenkins Whipray in groups or solitary?
Mainly solitary
116
What is the appearance of the Jenkins Whipray?
- yellowish-brown stingray with a long tail
- A row or enlarged spear-shaped thorns on the disc and tail. (if not present then a pink whipray/ Tahitian stingray).
117
What is the distinguishing feature of the Jenkins Whipray?
Spines along the back
118
What is the occurrence of the Jenkins whipray in Bira?
Uncommon
119
What is the scientific name of the Broad Cowtail Stingray?
Pastinachus ater (Macleay, 1883)
120
What is the maximum size of the Broad Cowtail Stingray
up to 2 m
121
Where do you find Broad Cowtail Stingrays?
Benthic; marine and brackish; reef-associated
122
Do you find the Broad Cowtail Stingray in groups or solitary?
Solitary or form schools
123
What is the appearance of the Broad Cowtail Stingray?
- Large
- uniformly dark
- Dense band of blunt denticles over the central disc
- Broad tail and flattened anteriorly
124
What is the distinguishing feature of the Broad Cowtail Stingray?
- Broad tail
125
What is the occurrence of the Broad Cowtail Stingray in Bira?
Rare
126
Where in the water column do you find the Broad Cowtail Stingray?
Benthic
127
What is the IUCN status of the Broad Cowtail Stingray?
Vulnerable
128
What is the scientific name for the Blue-spotted Stingray?
Neotrygon sp.
129
What is the maximum size of the blue-spotted stingray?
up to 70 cm, commonly 40 cm
130
Where do you find the blue-spotted stingray?
Benthic; lagoon and outer slopes
131
Do you find the blue-spotted stingray in groups or solitary?
Solitary or form schools
132
What is the appearance of the blue-spotted stingray?
- Brown to olive with blue spots and small black spots
- Sharply rounded "wing"
- Tail marked with white bards, longer than diameter of disc
- Mask-like marking around the eyes
133
What is the distinguishing feature of the blue-spotted stingray?
Shape and mask-like marking around the eyes
134
What is the occurrence of the blue-spotted stingray in Bira?
Common - there are multiple species in Indonesia, distribution is currently unclear
135
What is the position in the water column of the blue-spotted stingray?
Benthic
136
What is the IUCN status of the blue-spotted stingray?
Not evaluated
137
What is the scientific name of the blue-spotted ribbontail Ray?
Taeniura lymma (Forsskal, 1775)
138
What is the maximum size of the blue spotted ribbon-tail Ray
up to 35 cm
139
Where do you find the blue-spotted Ribbon-tail Ray?
Benthic; sandy bottoms, under ledges
140
Do you find the blue-spotted ribbon-tail ray in groups or solitary?
Solitary or form schools
141
What is the appearance of the blue-spotted ribbon-tail ray?
Yellow-brown with numerous blue spots
- Flattened blue ribbon like tail about 1.5 times of disc width
- Have 2 spines
142
What is the distinguishing feature of the blue-spotted ribbontail Ray?
Blue ribbon tail
143
What is the occurrence of the blue-spotted ribbon tail ray in Bira?
Common
144
What is the position in the water column of the blue-spotted ribbon-tail ray?
Benthic
145
What is the IUCN status of the blue-spotted ribbon-tail Ray?
Near Threatened
146
What is the scientific name for the marbled stingray?
Taeniura meyeni (Muller & Henle, 1841)
147
What is the maximum size of the marbled stingray?
up to 3.2 m
148
Where do you find the marbled stingray?
Benthic and benthopelagic; reef-associated
149
Do you find the marbled stingray in groups or solitary?
solitary
150
What is the appearance of the marbled stingray?
- Grey with variable pattern of dense black spots/blotches
- Short tail, about the same length as the disc
- Single Spine
151
What is the distinguishing feature of the marbled stingray?
Shape and dorsal pattern
152
What is the position in the water column of the marbled stingray?
Benthic
153
What is the IUCN status of the marbled stingray?
Vulnerable
154
What is the scientific name of the Mangrove Whipray?
Urogymnus granulatus (Macleay, 1883)
155
What is the maximum size of the Mangrove Whipray?
up to 1.4 m
156
Where do you find the Mangrove Whipray?
Benthic; reef and mangrove associated
157
Do you find mangrove whiprays alone or in groups?
Solitary
158
What is the appearance of the mangrove Whipray?
- Dark slate grey with white spots scattered and pale border on disc
- Stingers usually 2) and white tail behind
- Found near mangrove areas
159
What is the distinguishing feature of the Mangrove Whipray?
White tail
160
What is the occurrence of the Mangrove Whipray in Bira?
Rare
161
What is the position in the water column of the Mangrove Whipray?
Benthic
162
What is the IUCN status of the Mangrove Whipray?
vulnerable
163
What is the scientific name of the Bowmouth Guitarfish?
Rhina ancylostoma (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
164
What is the size of the Bowmouth Guitarfish?
up to 3m
165
Where do you find the Bowmouth Guitarfish?
Coastal seas, reef associated
166
Do you find the Bowmouth Guitarfish in groups or solitary?
Solitary
167
What is the appearance of the Bowmouth Guitarfish?
- Large grey shark-like ray
- Broad rounded head with body ridges above the eyes and along the centre line
- Large broad-based pectoral fins
- White spotting on the body and fins
168
What is the distinguishing feature of the Bowmouth Guitarfish?
Body shape
169
What is the occurrence of the Bowmouth Guitarfish in Bira?
Extremely rare
170
What is the position in the water column of the Bowmouth Guitarfish?
- Benthic
- Benthopelagic (reef)
171
What is the IUCN status of the Bowmouth Guitarfish?
Critically endangered
