Tubemouth whipray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tubemouth whipray |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Urogymnus
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| Species: |
lobistoma
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The tubemouth whipray (Urogymnus lobistoma) is a special type of stingray. It gets its name from its unique mouth, which can stick out like a tube! This ray lives in shallow, slightly salty water near mangrove forests and big river mouths. You can find it along the coasts of southwestern Borneo and southern Sumatra.
This ray can grow up to 1 meter (about 3 feet) wide. It has a diamond-shaped body with a long, pointy snout. Its skin is usually grayish or brownish and covered with tiny, flat bumps. The tubemouth whipray is still quite common, but its home is being damaged. Also, too much fishing is a problem for it. Because of these threats, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says it is a Vulnerable species. This means it needs protection to survive.
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How Was This Ray Discovered?
The first tubemouth whipray was found in the South China Sea in 1999. At first, scientists thought it was a different kind of ray. But as more rays were found, two scientists, B. Mabel Manjaji-Matsumoto and Peter Last, realized it was a new species. They officially described it in 2006.
They named it lobistoma. This name comes from two Latin words: lobus, meaning "sticking out," and stoma, meaning "mouth." This name perfectly describes its special tube-like mouth! The very first ray used to describe the species was a male, about 49 centimeters (19 inches) wide. It was found near Bintulu in Sarawak, Malaysia.
Where Does the Tubemouth Whipray Live?
The tubemouth whipray has only been found in a specific part of the world. It lives in the South China Sea, near southern Sumatra and southwestern Borneo. The farthest north it has been seen is Bintulu.
This ray loves areas where large rivers flow into the sea, especially near mangrove forests. It prefers water that is a bit salty, not too deep (less than 30 meters or 100 feet), and has a muddy bottom.
What Does the Tubemouth Whipray Look Like?
The tubemouth whipray has a body shaped like a diamond. It is a bit longer than it is wide, with round corners on the sides. The front edges of its body curve inward, leading to a narrow, flat, and pointy snout.
Its eyes are very small. Behind the eyes are much larger, tear-shaped holes called spiracles. These help the ray breathe. Its nostrils are small, with a thin flap of skin between them. The mouth is straight and wide. It does not have any small bumps inside.
The most amazing thing about this ray is its mouth! Its jaws can stick out very far, forming a tube that is even wider than its mouth. This is a unique feature among similar rays. It has many rows of tiny, blunt teeth, arranged like a flat pavement.
The ray's pelvic fins are short and can turn forward. Males have short, thick claspers, which are used for reproduction. The tail is thin and very long, more than twice the length of its body. It does not have any fins on its tail. There is usually a single stinging spine on the top of the tail near its base. However, adult rays often lose this spine.
The top of the ray's body and tail are covered with tiny, blunt bumps. There is also a clear, wide band of slightly larger, plate-like bumps. This band runs from in front of its eyes all the way to the base of its tail. It even has 1 to 5 larger, oval bumps in a row between its "shoulders."
The tubemouth whipray is usually grayish to light brown on top. Its eyes and spiracles have white edges. The underside of its body is plain white. Female rays can grow up to 1 meter (3 feet) wide, while males are smaller.
Life Cycle and Habits
The tubemouth whipray likely eats crustaceans like crabs and shrimp, as well as small fish. Like other stingrays, it gives birth to live young. The baby rays grow inside the mother, getting food from a special "uterine milk" produced by the mother.
Scientists found one ray that had a single baby almost ready to be born. This baby was about 18 centimeters (7 inches) wide. Male rays become old enough to reproduce when they are less than 49 centimeters (19 inches) wide. Females are ready when they are less than 70 centimeters (27 inches) wide.
Why Is This Ray Vulnerable?
The tubemouth whipray is still fairly common in the areas where it lives, especially near Sarawak. However, its numbers have probably dropped a lot in recent years. This is due to two main reasons:
- Habitat Loss: The mangrove forests where it lives are being damaged. These forests are important homes and nurseries for many sea creatures.
- Fishing: There is a lot of fishing happening in coastal areas, using nets and longlines. These rays are often caught by accident when fishermen are trying to catch other fish. They are then sold for their meat.
Because of these threats, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the tubemouth whipray as a Vulnerable species. This means it is at high risk of becoming endangered if we don't protect it and its habitat.
