Gymnura australis (Ramsay & Ogilby, 1886)
Australian butterfly ray
Gymnura australis
photo by Gloerfelt-Tarp, T.

Family:  Gymnuridae (Butterfly rays)
Max. size:  94 cm WD (male/unsexed); max.weight: 7,400.0 g
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range - 250 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: northern Australia and south coast of New Guinea (Refs. 9819, 114953). Also in the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819).
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  A benthic species. Found on coastal to offshore on continental shelf in open sandy, muddy and silty habitat, including estuaries and intertidal zones. Mainly feeds on bony fishes (Ref. 114953). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Maturity size 35-42 cm WD (males) and 44-46 cm WD (females); hatch size 22-25 cm DW. Produces litters of 1-6 pups (Ref. 114953). Caught by shrimp trawlers.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 24 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.