Pastinachus gracilicaudus

Last & Manjaji-Matsumoto, 2010


Narrowtail stingray
Classification: Elasmobranchii Myliobatiformes Dasyatidae

Reference of the original description
Last, P.R. & Manjaji-Matsumoto, B.M. (2010)
Description of a new stingray, Pastinachus gracilicaudus sp. nov. (Elasmobranchii: Myliobatiformes), based on material from the Indo-Malay Archipelago. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Paper, 32, 115–128

Image of the original description

Pastinachus gracilicaudus sp. nov, juvenile male holotype (SMEC 35, 364 mm DW, preserved): dorsal surface. In: Last, P.R. & Manjaji-Matsumoto, B.M. (2010): Description of a new stinGray, Pastinachus gracilicaudus sp. nov. (Elasmobranchii: Myliobatiformes), based on material from the Indo-Malay Archipelago. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Paper, 32: 115-128

Synonyms / new combinations and misspellings
Pastinachus cf. gracilicaudus



Description :


Citation: Pastinachus gracilicaudus Last & Manjaji-Matsumoto, 2010: In: Database of modern sharks, rays and chimaeras, www.shark-references.com, World Wide Web electronic publication, Version 03/2024

Please send your images of "Pastinachus gracilicaudus" to info@shark-references.com

Pastinachus gracilicaudus sp. nov, adult male paratype (SFRI 28404–15, 747 mm DW, fresh): dorsal surface/ventral surface. In: Last, P.R. & Manjaji-Matsumoto, B.M. (2010): Description of a new stinGray, Pastinachus gracilicaudus sp. nov. (Elasmobranchii: Myliobatiformes), based on material from the Indo-Malay Archipelago. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Paper, 32: 115-128
Short Description
This medium-sized species (attaining about 75 cm DW) is distinguished by the following set of characters: snout rounded, not produced, angle more than 115°, apex largely naked and lacking enlarged denticles; disc length 83-89% DW; head length 38-41% DW; preoral length 15-17% DW; distance between nostrils 7-8% DW; distance between first gill slits 18-20% DW; tail compressed above mid-base of ventral cutaneous fold, its width 0.5-0.8 times its height; ventral fold low and slender, length 0.7-1.0 times DW, 17-22 times its depth below its mid-base, depth 2.0-3.6 times tail height at its mid-base; distance from anterior cloaca to sting 0.8-1 in precloacal length; two large, midscapular pearl thorns, usually preceded by a smaller irregular thorn; 120-122 pectoral-fin radials; monospondylous vertebral centra (exc. synarcual) 37-40 (Ref. 84288).

Distribution
Western Pacific: This species is reasonably common but patchily distributed in both Malaysian and Indonesian Borneo, including Sabah, Sarawak, and western and northeastern Kalimantan. Possibly more widespread in the Indo-Malay Archipelago, east to at least the Wallace Line and the the identity of a specimen collected off Beruwala (Sri Lanka) needs confirmation.

Biology
The depth occupied by this species is unknown as most material were collected in fish markets, but probably mainly coastal. A 69.5 cm DW adult male weighed ca 12 kg. Size at birth apparently variable; 83.0 cm DW female delivered a full term embryo with small umbilical scar; however, other retained specimens, 26.1 cm DW still had a substantial yolk sac, while in another 19.3 cm DW specimen the umbilical scar was barely visible. All these young specimens have large mid-scapular tubercles and well-developed denticles over most of the dorsal disc; a small embryo with yolk sac (16.5 cm DW) had prominent mid-scapular tubercles, but other denticles are just starting to form on the disc (Ref. 84288). Tropical

Size / Weight / Age
Max length : 74.7 cm WD male/unsexed; (Ref. 84288); 83 cm WD (female)

Habitat
Benthopelagic; marine

Remarks
shark-references Species-ID=9013;

Parasites (arranged by Jürgen Pollerspöck)
Cestoda
  • Halysioncum vojtai (Kuchta & Caira, 2010) [19536]
  • Prochristianella clarkeae Beveridge, 1990 [17404] [21816]
  • Rhinoptericola jensenae (Schaeffner & Beveridge, 2012) [17404] [21816]
  • Tetrarhynchobothrium unionifactor (Shipley & Hornell, 1904) [21816]