spiny butterfly ray

Scientific name Gymnura altavela
Descriptor Linnaeus
Year of description 1758
IUCN category EN
Family Gymnuridae
Genus Gymnura
Gymnura altavela Gymnura altavela

Introduction

Gymnura altavela, commonly known as spiny butterfly ray, is a brackish water and salt water fish.

Who is it?

Morphology

  • Average size
    200 cm
  • Maximum size
    400 cm
  • Longevity
    18 year
  • Mimicry
    sand
  • Pattern
    circle pattern
  • Average size
    200 cm
  • Maximum size
    400 cm
  • Longevity
    18 year
  • Mimicry
    sand
  • Pattern
    circle pattern

How to recognize the spiny butterfly ray ?

The spiny butterfly ray measures between 200 and 400 cm. This fish is bicolore with a predominantly marron and gris body. The also has beige circle pattern.

Behaviour & Life cycle

  • diet
    carnivorous
  • Sociability
    solitary
  • territorial
    No
  • Way of living
    diurnal

The spiny butterfly ray is a fish solitary naturally found on the bottom. This species is carnivorous .

Although the spiny butterfly ray is non-territorial, it is sometimes aggressive towards other species.

Reproduction

Harmless species

This species does not represent any particular threats to humans when encountered in its natural environment.

Where to find it?

What is its habitat?

Natural environment characteristics

  • Temperature
    15 - 28 °C
  • Depth
    5 - 100 m
  • Environment
    Free benthic

Biotope presentation

The spiny butterfly ray is most often found at a depth between 5m and 100m. However, it is not impossible to find this species at other depths.

Species of the same biotope

To go further

To read on the web

Sources & Contributions

Participation & Validation

The Fishipedia team and specialist contributors are committed to providing high-quality content. However, although the information comes from scientific sources or testimonials from specialists, the cards may contain inaccuracies.

Aurélien Calas

Aurélien Calas

Translation

Translation done with the valuable contribution of our translators, who make this information available to a wider audience. We sincerely thank them for their commitment.

Bibliographic references

Nouvelle description de Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus, 1758) (Pisces, Rajiformes, Gymnuridae). - Christian CAPAPE - Bulletin de l'Institut National Scientifique et Technique d'Océanographie et de Pêche de Salammbo - 1981.

Age and growth assessment of western North Atlantic spiny butterfly ray Gymnura altavela (L. 1758) using computed tomography of vertebral centra - K.T. Parsons - Environmental Biology of Fishes - 2017.

Captive husbandry and bioenergetics of the spiny butterfly ray,Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus) - Alan Henningsen - Bulletin de l'Institut National Scientifique et Technique d'Océanographie et de Pêche de Salammbo - 1996.

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Species of the same biotope

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