Urogymnus asperrimus (Porcupine ray)

(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Chondrichthyes > Elasmobranchii > Batoidei >  Myliobatoidei > Dasyatidae

Urogymnus asperrimus (Porcupine ray) [Illustration by Ann Hecht ©]

Identification

A stingless, heavily armoured stingray with an elongated, oval, white to light grey disk and slender blackish tail without finfolds. Snout broadly rounded, disk very thick with broadly rounded outer corners, tail about as long as body. Young have large flat denticles on upper surface; large juveniles and adults develop additional huge sharp conical thorns and small pointed denticles, making them extremely rough and difficult to handle. Underside white.

Size

To about 2 m TL and 1 m DW.

Range

East coast, Natal northwards; Indian Ocean and western Pacific.

Habitat

Inshore.

Biology

Almost nothing known, rare in the area.

Human Impact

None.

Text by Leonard J.V. Compagno, David A. Ebert and Malcolm J. Smale