Oriental Bluespotted Maskray

description

IUCN standard name :: Oriental Bluespotted Maskray Fig. 16, Table 2

Cartilaginous fish diversity in the Western Visayas, Philippines, including two putative unidentified species and the first record of Carcharhinus plumbeus (Elasmobranchii: Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae)

description

Morphological description. Body moderate in size; dorsal area with median row of small thorns located on center region; disc not greatly expanded, rhomboid. Eyes moderately large and elongated; spiracles very wide. Snout short, slightly angular with rounded tip. Mouth small. Nostrils moderately oval, partially covered with nasal flap; nasal flap skirt-shaped, slightly reaching mouth. Pectoral-fin apex angular; front margins convex; posterior margins straight. Pelvic fin short, subtriangular. Tail tapering, not whip-like; dorsal and ventral skin folds present; spine on caudal fin already removed upon purchase. Gill slits located on underside moderately short, with five slits on each side. Color of fresh specimen. Dorsal area pale brown with light blue spots outlined with darker blue of various sizes; ventral area white, becoming brown on edges; faint brown band present across the eyes; eyes and spiracles surrounded with numerous, tiny black spots, with a few similar black spots widely scattered on the dorsal area; tail dark brown with irregular black and white bands. Color of preserved specimen. Central region of the dorsal area dark brown to black; disc area light brown; blue spots

Cartilaginous fish diversity in the Western Visayas, Philippines, including two putative unidentified species and the first record of Carcharhinus plumbeus (Elasmobranchii: Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae)

distribution

Distribution. Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Borneo, Philippines, and Taiwan (Last et al. 2016 b; Manjaji-Matsumoto 2017; Borsa et al. 2018)

Cartilaginous fish diversity in the Western Visayas, Philippines, including two putative unidentified species and the first record of Carcharhinus plumbeus (Elasmobranchii: Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae)