Common names
Séret's butterfly ray

Short Description
Original diagnose after YOKOTA & DE CARVALHO, 2017 [25819]: A medium size butterfly ray occurring in the eastern central Atlantic. Gymnura sereti, sp. nov. is distinguished from other species of butterfly rays (except G. micrura and G. lessae) by the combination of the following characters: absence of spiracular tentacle, caudal stings and dorsal fin; tail relatively short (mean post-cloacal length 24% DW), and prominently banded, presenting 3 to 6 (often 4) black bands that may be less distinct in large adults. Gymnura sereti, sp. nov. is distinguished from G. micrura and G. lessae by the following characters: clasper of mature males stouter and shorter, Lclasper 6.8–9.2% DW (vs. clasper slender and longer, Lclasper 9.3– 11% DW in G. micrura and 9.4–14.3% DW in G. lessae); cranial fontanelle keyhole-shaped (vs. U-shaped); mesopterygium divided into two solid elements (vs. mesopterygium divided into one anterior solid element and 5– 7 smaller fragments); distance between anteroventral and posteroventral fenestrae of scapulocoracoid about 20% of scapulocoracoid length (vs. distance between AVF and PVF 30–40% of scapulocoracoid length); lateral projection of synarcual base starting at its half length (vs. lateral projection of the base of synarcual starting at its anterior third); higher number of diplospondylous vertebrae (mean 110 vs. 98 and 97 in G. micrura and G. lessae, respectively), and lower number of radials in the posterior mesopterygial element compared to the mesopterygial fragments in G. micrura and G. lessae (range 10–15 vs. 15–17 and 14–19 in G. micrura and G. lessae, respectively). Gymnura sereti, sp. nov. is further distinguished from G. micrura by its dorsal side brownish with a vermiculate background (vs. dorsal side usually uniformly brown or gray, without any vermiculate pattern), and basipterygium representing <50% of pelvic propterygial length (vs. basipterygium representing >60% of pelvic propterygial length). Gymnura sereti, sp. nov. is further distinguished from G. lessae by the dorsal contour of its hyomandibula with two conspicuous protuberances (vs. dorsal contour of the hyomandibula with a conspicuous proximal protuberance followed by a inconspicuous distal one) and lower number of pectoral radials (range 109–115 vs. 118–127). Other differences discussed in the text.

Distribution
West African coast from Senegal to Angola (south to Baía Farta, Benguela Province) [25819]

Size / Weight / Age
embryos 183–212 mm DW, birth size is estimated around 180–220 mm DW, Dwmax: 1000–1100 mm [25819]

Habitat
marine; sandy and muddy bottoms in inshore waters, also entering estuaries [25819]

Dentition
Small, numerous and closely crowded teeth in bands; teeth with one medial, pointed cusp directed towards inside of mouth; base somewhat broad, not twisted, practically straight; labial face of teeth T-shaped; teeth similar between jaws and sexes, their number increasing with growth. [25819]

Remarks
shark-references Species-ID=14951;