Country Species Summary

Pastinachus sephen in Somalia
Cowtail stingray

Pastinachus sephen (Forsskål, 1775)
Family:	Dasyatidae (Stingrays)	picture (Pasep_u4.jpg) by Banks, I.
Order:	Rajiformes (skates and rays)
Class:	Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays)
FishBase name:	Cowtail stingray
Max. size:	183 cm WD (male/unsexed; Ref. 37816)
Environment:	reef-associated; amphidromous ; depth range - 60 m
Climate:	tropical; 32°N - 32°S
Global Importance:	fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience:	Very low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Assuming Fec<10)
Distribution:	Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Persian Gulf and South Africa to Micronesia, north to Japan, south to Melanesia and the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819).
Diagnosis:	Dorsal spines (total): 0-0. A large, plain, dark stingray with an angular snout and pectoral disc; tail long and broad-based, less than twice body length, and with no upper caudal finfold but with high lower caudal finfold- 2 to 3 times depth of tail but not reaching tail tip; no large thorns; 1 or 2 long stings on tail, further behind tail base than in most stingrays; unique hexagonal, high-crowned teeth (Ref. 5578). Dark brown or black dorsally without conspicuous markings, white ventrally (Ref. 5578). Tail black (Ref. 3263).
Biology:	Found in lagoons, reef flats, and reef faces (Ref. 12951). Also in rivers far from the sea (Ref. 5578). Feeds on bony fishes, worms, shrimp, and crabs (Ref. 12951). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Adults are sometimes accompanied by remoras or members of the trevally family (Ref. 6871). Size at birth about 18 cm WD or larger (Ref. 6871). Flesh utilized as food and skin used for polishing wood (Ref. 4832). Possibly caught by sports anglers (Ref. 5578). Recently there is a targeted fishery on this species for its skin, which is used as 'shagreen' in fashion accessories, from wallets to fancy pens; as a result, the species is in danger of disappearance (IHT 26.11.2005, p.5). Maximum length about 300 cm TL (Ref. 30573)
Threatened:	Not Evaluated, see IUCN Red List , (Ref. 36508)
Dangerous:	venomous
Coordinator:	McEachran, John
Main Ref:	Last, P.R. and J.D. Stevens. 1994. (Ref. 6871)
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Somalia country information
Common names:	Shafane cordaal	Ref: Sommer, C., W. Schneider and J.-M. Poutiers, 1996
Status:	native	Ref:
Salinity:	freshwater, brackish, marine
Regulations:	no regulations	Ref:
Uses:	no uses
Country Information:	www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/so.html
Occurrences:	Occurrences Point map
Main Ref:	Sommer, C., W. Schneider and J.-M. Poutiers, 1996
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Entered: Garilao, Cristina V.

CGNET - US

Page created by: Eli, 20.10.03, last modified by Eli, 26.06.07

	Ref.:		Glossary
		(e.g. 9948)		(e.g. cephalopods)
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