Butterfly stingaree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Butterfly stingaree |
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The butterfly stingaree (Urolophus papilio) is a type of stingray. It is not very well known. This ray lives only in one specific area: the deep continental slope near the Chesterfield Islands. These islands are located in the Pacific Ocean.
The butterfly stingaree has a body shaped like a diamond. Its body is wider than it is long. It also has a short tail that looks like a leaf at the end. This ray has a small fin on its back and some skin folds on its sides. A special flap of skin, shaped like a skirt, is found between its nostrils. The stingaree is usually yellowish or brownish on top. It can grow to be at least 40 cm (16 in) long.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says this ray is of "Least Concern". This means it is not currently in danger. This is because there isn't much fishing in the areas where it lives.
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Discovering the Butterfly Stingaree
Scientists Bernard Séret and Peter Last officially described the butterfly stingaree. They wrote about it in 2003 in a science magazine called Cybium. The name "papilio" comes from Latin. It means "butterfly." This name was chosen because of the ray's wide, butterfly-like body shape.
The first known butterfly stingarees were found in the 1990s. They were collected during research trips in the Coral Sea. These trips were done by scientists from France and Australia. A male stingaree, about 40 cm (16 in) long, was caught by a research ship. This specific ray became the "holotype." A holotype is the main example specimen used to describe a new species.
This stingaree seems to be related to two other types of stingarees. These are the sandyback stingaree and the patchwork stingaree.
Where They Live
The butterfly stingaree lives on the ocean floor. It has only been found in one place so far. This is off the Chesterfield Islands, which are northwest of New Caledonia. It lives deep in the ocean, about 330 m (1,080 ft) down. This deep area is called the continental slope.
What They Look Like
The butterfly stingaree has a body that looks like a diamond. This body, called a disc, is usually wider than it is long. The corners of its disc are nicely rounded. Its snout, or nose, is blunt and sticks out a little.
The ray's eyes are not very big. Right behind its eyes are small, teardrop-shaped holes. These are called spiracles. They help the ray breathe. Between its nostrils, there is a large flap of skin. It looks like a skirt and has a slightly wavy edge.
The mouth of the stingaree is a good size. Inside, it has 10 to 13 small bumps, called papillae, in a row. It has many rows of teeth: 24 to 28 rows on the top jaw and 26 to 31 rows on the bottom jaw. It also has five pairs of short gill slits. The fins on its belly, called pelvic fins, are small and round. Male stingarees have slightly pointed parts called claspers.
The tail of the butterfly stingaree is flat at the base. It gets thinner quickly. The tail is about 63% to 70% as long as the disc. There is a sharp, jagged spine on top of its tail. This spine is about halfway along the tail's length. Before the spine, there is a low fin on its back. The tail might also have small ridges of skin on its sides. The very end of the tail has a short, deep fin that looks like a leaf.
The skin of this stingaree is smooth. It does not have any rough scales or bumps. The ray is yellowish or brownish on its top side. Its underside is white or cream colored. It has a wide, darker band along the sides and back edges of its disc. The fins on its back and tail have darker edges. These dark edges are easier to see in younger stingarees. The butterfly stingaree can grow to be at least 40 cm (16 in) long.
How They Live
Scientists do not know much about the daily life of the butterfly stingaree. Like other stingarees, it likely gives birth to live young. The babies are born at about 14 cm (5.5 in) long. Young stingarees have faint light and dark spots on their top side. They also do not have the dark bands on the underside of their disc. Male stingarees are ready to have babies when they are about 31 cm (12 in) long.
Butterfly Stingaree and People
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the butterfly stingaree as "Least Concern". This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing. This is good news because there is not much commercial fishing in the deep waters where this ray lives. So, it is not often caught by accident in fishing nets.
