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Report of zonetail butterfly ray, Gymnura zonura (Bleeker, 1852) and mangrove stingray Urogymnus granulatus (Macleay 1883) (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes) from Andaman waters, India

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Abstract

This paper reports the occurrence of two stingray species from Andaman waters, India; the zonetail butterfly ray Gymnura zonura (Bleeker, 1852) (695 mm DW) which represents a new distributional range, and the mangrove stingray Urogymnus granulatus (Macleay 1883) (395 mm DW) which represents a rare occurrence. These occurrences suggest hidden stingray diversity in this region. Morphological descriptions of both species, as well as a molecular barcode of G. zonura, were generated in the present study to clarify the taxonomic information. The current report assists in improving the understanding of the local diversity and distribution of batoids in Andaman waters, which is crucial for developing fishery management strategies.

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All data are available in the manuscript.

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Acknowledgements

RRK and SV are thankful to the authority of Pondicherry University for providing the facility to carry out this work. Thanks are also due to Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF–UGC) for Ravi Ranjan Kumar. Fishermen and traders of the Andaman Islands are also acknowledged for their support during the field surveys.

Funding

The present finding is part of Ph.D. research of RRK, supported by Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF/ 67911/2014–15/UGC– New Delhi, India).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology, Pondicherry University, Port Blair, Andaman Islands, India

    Ravi Ranjan Kumar & S. Venu

  2. ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Mumbai Regional Station, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    K. V. Akhilesh

  3. Zoological Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, Port Blair, Andaman Islands, India

    K. K. Bineesh

Authors
  1. Ravi Ranjan Kumar
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  2. S. Venu
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  3. K. V. Akhilesh
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  4. K. K. Bineesh
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Contributions

Sample collection & manuscript writing – RRK, BKK & AKV

Morphometric measurements & data analysis – RRK & SV

Sample Identification – RRK, BKK, AKV, SV

Barcode study– BKK

Manuscript concept – RRK, SV & AKV

All authors read, incorporated, and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Venu.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

No animal testing was performed during this study. 

Sampling and Field Studies

The sample for this study was collected from the fish landing center of the Andaman Islands, which were caught in the commercial trawler and motorized fishing boat.

Necessary permits for sampling and observational field studies have been obtained by the authors from the competent authorities and are mentioned in the acknowledgments, if applicable. The study is compliant with CBD and Nagoya protocols.

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Kumar, R.R., Venu, S., Akhilesh, K.V. et al. Report of zonetail butterfly ray, Gymnura zonura (Bleeker, 1852) and mangrove stingray Urogymnus granulatus (Macleay 1883) (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes) from Andaman waters, India. Thalassas 38, 367–375 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41208-021-00302-7

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