Butterfly stingaree
Encyclopedia
The butterfly stingaree (Urolophus papilio) is a little-known species
of stingray
in the family
Urolophidae, endemic to the continental slope off the Chesterfield Islands
. This species is characterized by a diamond-shaped pectoral fin disc much wider than long, and a rather short tail terminating in a leaf-shaped caudal fin, as well as bearing a dorsal fin
and sometimes indistinct lateral skin folds. There is a skirt-shaped flap of skin between its nostrils. It is plain yellowish to brownish above, and reaches a length of at least 40 cm (15.7 in). The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed this ray as of Least Concern
, since no commercial trawl fishing
occurs within its range.
Cybium; the specific epithet, "papilio" (Latin
for "butterfly"), refers to its wide disc. The first known specimens were collected during a series of research cruises in the Coral Sea
, conducted by France and Australia in the 1990s. An adult male 40 cm (15.7 in) long, trawled by the research vessel Coriolis, was designated as the holotype
. This species seems to be closely related to the sandyback stingaree (U. bucculentus) and the patchwork stingaree
(U. flavomosaicus).
, northwest of New Caledonia
.
s. Between the nostrils is a large, skirt-shaped curtain of skin with a subtly fringed trailing margin. The mouth is moderately large and contains 10–13 papillae (nipple-shaped structures) in an row across the floor. There are 24–28 upper and 26–31 lower tooth rows. The five pairs of gill slit
s are short. The pelvic fins are small and rounded; males have slightly pointed claspers.
The tail is flattened at the base and tapers rapidly, measuring 63–70% as long as the disc. There is a serrated stinging spine placed atop the tail about midway along its length, which is preceded by a low dorsal fin
. The tail may also have slight ridge of skin running along each side, and terminates in a very short, deep, leaf-shaped caudal fin. The skin entirely lacks dermal denticles. This species is yellowish to brownish above; the underside is white to cream, with a wide darker band along the lateral and posterior disc margins. The dorsal and caudal fins are dusky-edged, which is more obvious in juveniles. The butterfly stingaree grows to at least 40 cm (15.7 in) long.
at about 31 cm (12.2 in) long.
by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), given that commercial trawl fisheries
are absent from its range.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of stingray
Myliobatiformes
Myliobatiformes is one of the four orders of batoids, cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. They were formerly included in the order Rajiformes, but more recent phylogenetic studies have shown that the myliobatiforms are a monophyletic group, and that its more derived members evolved their...
in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Urolophidae, endemic to the continental slope off the Chesterfield Islands
Chesterfield Islands
Chesterfield Islands is a french archipelago of New Caledonia located in the Coral Sea, 550 km northwest of Grande Terre the main island of New Caledonia. Chesterfield Islands are a 120 km long and 70 km broad structure composed with 11 islets and many reefs...
. This species is characterized by a diamond-shaped pectoral fin disc much wider than long, and a rather short tail terminating in a leaf-shaped caudal fin, as well as bearing a dorsal fin
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
and sometimes indistinct lateral skin folds. There is a skirt-shaped flap of skin between its nostrils. It is plain yellowish to brownish above, and reaches a length of at least 40 cm (15.7 in). The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed this ray as of Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern is an IUCN category assigned to extant taxon or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, Near Threatened, or Conservation Dependent...
, since no commercial trawl fishing
Commercial fishing
Commercial fishing is the activity of catching fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries. It provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who practice it as an industry must often pursue fish far into the ocean under adverse conditions...
occurs within its range.
Taxonomy
The butterfly stingaree was described by Bernard Séret and Peter Last in a 2003 issue of the scientific journalScientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...
Cybium; the specific epithet, "papilio" (Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for "butterfly"), refers to its wide disc. The first known specimens were collected during a series of research cruises in the Coral Sea
Coral Sea
The Coral Sea is a marginal sea off the northeast coast of Australia. It is bounded in the west by the east coast of Queensland, thereby including the Great Barrier Reef, in the east by Vanuatu and by New Caledonia, and in the north approximately by the southern extremity of the Solomon Islands...
, conducted by France and Australia in the 1990s. An adult male 40 cm (15.7 in) long, trawled by the research vessel Coriolis, was designated as the holotype
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
. This species seems to be closely related to the sandyback stingaree (U. bucculentus) and the patchwork stingaree
Patchwork stingaree
The patchwork stingaree is a little-known species of stingray in the family Urolophidae, with a disjunct distribution off northwestern and northeastern Australia. It usually inhabits the outer continental shelf, at a depth of...
(U. flavomosaicus).
Distribution and habitat
The bottom-dwelling butterfly stingaree has only been recorded from a depth of 330 m (1,082.7 ft) on the continental slope off the Chesterfield IslandsChesterfield Islands
Chesterfield Islands is a french archipelago of New Caledonia located in the Coral Sea, 550 km northwest of Grande Terre the main island of New Caledonia. Chesterfield Islands are a 120 km long and 70 km broad structure composed with 11 islets and many reefs...
, northwest of New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
.
Description
The butterfly stingaree has a diamond-shaped pectoral fin disc 113–121% as wide as long, with broadly rounded outer corners. The snout forms an obtuse angle and has a protruding tip. The eyes are modest in size and immediately followed by teardrop-shaped spiracleSpiracle
Spiracles are openings on the surface of some animals that usually lead to respiratory systems.-Vertebrates:The spiracle is a small hole behind each eye that opens to the mouth in some fishes. In the primitive jawless fish the first gill opening immediately behind the mouth is essentially similar...
s. Between the nostrils is a large, skirt-shaped curtain of skin with a subtly fringed trailing margin. The mouth is moderately large and contains 10–13 papillae (nipple-shaped structures) in an row across the floor. There are 24–28 upper and 26–31 lower tooth rows. The five pairs of gill slit
Gill slit
Gill slits are individual openings to gills, i.e., multiple gill arches, which lack a single outer cover. Such gills are characteristic of Cartilaginous fish such as sharks, rays, sawfish, and guitarfish. Most of these have five pairs, but a few species have 6 or 7 pairs...
s are short. The pelvic fins are small and rounded; males have slightly pointed claspers.
The tail is flattened at the base and tapers rapidly, measuring 63–70% as long as the disc. There is a serrated stinging spine placed atop the tail about midway along its length, which is preceded by a low dorsal fin
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
. The tail may also have slight ridge of skin running along each side, and terminates in a very short, deep, leaf-shaped caudal fin. The skin entirely lacks dermal denticles. This species is yellowish to brownish above; the underside is white to cream, with a wide darker band along the lateral and posterior disc margins. The dorsal and caudal fins are dusky-edged, which is more obvious in juveniles. The butterfly stingaree grows to at least 40 cm (15.7 in) long.
Biology and ecology
Little is known of the natural history of the butterfly stingaree. It is presumably aplacental viviparous with a small litter size, like other stingarees. The young are born at about 14 cm (5.5 in) long, and have large, faint lighter and darker blotches on the upper surface of the disc; the dark marginal bands beneath the disc are also absent. The males mature sexuallySexual maturity
Sexual maturity is the age or stage when an organism can reproduce. It is sometimes considered synonymous with adulthood, though the two are distinct...
at about 31 cm (12.2 in) long.
Human interactions
The butterfly stingaree has been listed under Least ConcernLeast Concern
Least Concern is an IUCN category assigned to extant taxon or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, Near Threatened, or Conservation Dependent...
by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), given that commercial trawl fisheries
Commercial fishing
Commercial fishing is the activity of catching fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries. It provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who practice it as an industry must often pursue fish far into the ocean under adverse conditions...
are absent from its range.