Gymnura lessae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gymnura lessae | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Order: | Myliobatiformes |
| Family: | Gymnuridae |
| Genus: | Gymnura |
| Species: | G. lessae |
| Binomial name | |
| Gymnura lessae Yokota & Carvalho, 2017 | |
Gymnura lessae, or Lessa's butterfly ray, is a cartilaginous fish (batoid) species of butterfly ray (Gymnura). Native to the coastlines stretching from Massachusetts, US to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.[2] It is named after Rosângela Lessa, a prominent figure in shark and ray conservation.[3][4]
Initially, G. lessae was thought to be the same species as Gymnura micrura, however and primarily because of internal morphological differences, Gymnura lessae was redescribed as a new species.[4]
Gymnura Lessae is found on a long stretch of the eastern side of the US from Rhode Island to the Gulf of Mexico including Louisiana and Texas, US and Tamaulipas to Campeche, Mexico.[1] They occupy neritic environments, prefer sandy and muddy bottoms and reach a depth of up to 60 m (200 ft).[1]
Dietary habits
Gymnura lessae is a specialized teleost feeder who primarily eats drumfish and anchovies.[5] They tend to hide and sneak, and stun their prey with their pectoral fins.[5]
Variation in feeding pattern exists, largely driven by sex differences and seasonal changes.[5] Sex driven variation is due to size and seasonal changes primarily the result of differing prey communities.[5] Females are much larger at maturity, hence tend to eat larger prey.[5]
Reproduction and growth
Gymnura lessae is a viviparous[1] sexually dimorphic[6] fish. Females are larger (disc width(DW):460 mm (18 in)) than males (DW:340 mm (13 in)), however the latter reaches sexual maturity faster; although both exhibit rapid growth and high fertility.[6] This makes G. lessae resistant to exploitation putting it as both a stable population and a least concern species[1][6] as compared to many other rays that face threats of extinction.[6]
