Brevitrygon walga

(Müller & Henle, 1841)

Vernacular names
English : Scaly whipray
French : Raie pastenague walga

Classification
Class : Elasmobranchii
Order : Myliobatiformes
Family : Dasyatidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
The species grows to a disk width of 32 cm for a total length around 70 cm. Broad olive tail at base, getting thinner and darker after tail spine. Triangular and pointed snout. Coloration uniform dark brown with pale disk margins.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the western Indian Ocean, from Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to Persian gulf and west Indian coasts. Lives in sandy and muddy bottoms near coasts, estuaries, to 70 m deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NEAR THREATENED
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is locally common but its taxonomic status is still debated. It is however more and more threatened by growing fishing pressure.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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