Species: Gymnura micrura, Brazilian Butterfly Ray

Gymnura micrura (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Brazilian Butterfly Ray

Disc rhomboidal, much wider (at least 1.5 times) than long; snout very bluntly pointed, ~12% of disc width; pectorals not separated from head, with concave front edges; mouth arched, no papilla on its floor; jaws with many small teeth in bands; nostrils with a broad, smooth-edged curtain before mouth; spiracle without tentacle on its rear margin; pectorals extend well behind pelvic fin origin; pelvics with one lobe; tail very short, much shorter than disc; no dorsal or no tail fins, but skin folds present on its upper &/or lower surfaces; upper surface usually smooth, without denticles; no spines on tail.

Upper surface grey, brown, green or purplish, sometimes with dark blotches; dark bars across tail; lower surface white, with grey margins.

Reaches 80 cm disc width.

Benthic on sandy bottoms, including estuaries.

Depth range: 1-55 m.

Venezuela to southern Brazil.