Flapnose ray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flapnose ray |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Rhinoptera
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| Species: |
javanica
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The flapnose ray or Javanese cownose ray (Rhinoptera javanica) is a type of fish. It belongs to the Rhinopteridae family, which includes other cownose rays. This ray is found in many parts of the Indo-Pacific ocean. You can find it near countries like China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Madagascar, and South Africa. It lives in different water environments. These include open seas, shallow waters, coral reefs, and coastal lagoons.
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Why Flapnose Rays Need Our Help
The number of Javanese cownose rays has dropped a lot. Scientists have seen big drops in their populations. In some areas, their numbers have gone down by 50% to 79%. This has happened over the last 44 years. This means they are in serious trouble.
What Does "Endangered" Mean?
The Javanese cownose ray is listed as Endangered (EN). This status comes from the IUCN. It means the species faces a very high risk of disappearing forever. This is why protecting them is so important.
What Dangers Do Flapnose Rays Face?
Flapnose rays face many dangers, mostly from human activities. These dangers are causing their numbers to shrink.
Fishing and Too Much Catching
Flapnose rays are caught by many different fishing methods. Sometimes, fishermen aim to catch them directly. Other times, they are caught by accident. This is called bycatch. Fishing methods include large nets like trawl nets and gill nets. They are also caught with longlines. These rays are often sold for food. They can also be turned into fishmeal. This high level of fishing pressure happens across all the areas where they live.
Not Enough Fish Left
In some places, like the northern South China Sea, there are not enough fish left. This is because of overfishing. Overfishing means catching too many fish too quickly. Modern fishing boats and gear make it easier to catch more fish. The number of fishing boats has also grown. People want more seafood, especially in countries like China. This puts even more pressure on fish populations.
Illegal Fishing
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a big problem. This type of fishing happens when boats catch fish without permission. They might not report what they catch. Or they might fish in areas where they are not allowed. This makes the problem of overfishing much worse. It is hard to know how many rays are truly being caught. Even some protected ocean areas are affected by illegal fishing.
