Issue
Urogymnus africanus and Urogymnus asperrimus are considered synonyms and both are originally described in the same work. There is uncertainty about which name has priority, and thus both names can be found as valid; the first reviser is not researched (Eschmeyer, 2014).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 15 - 217 m (Ref. 86942). Tropical; 31°N - 31°S, 20°W - 177°W
Eastern Central Atlantic: Senegal, Guinea, and Côte d'Ivoire (Ref. 4438). Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and coast of East Africa to the Marshall Islands and Fiji, south to northern Australia (Ref. 2334).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 100 - ? cm
Max length : 147 cm WD male/unsexed; (Ref. 58048)
Diagnosis: A heavily armored stingray lacking a venomous barb; young with large, flat denticles on upper surface, and large juveniles and adults with additional sharp conical thorns and small, pointed denticles (Ref. 5578).
Body shape (shape guide): other.
Inhabits the continental shelf area (Ref. 2334), but capable of entering coastal lagoons (Ref. 81259). Found on sand and coral rubble areas near reefs (Ref. 9840), often in caves. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Due to its difficult handling, it is probably of limited commercial value (Ref. 9840). Its thorn can inflict a painful injury; caught commonly by demersal tangle net fisheries; utilized for its meat, skin (very high value) and cartilage (Ref.58048).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures (Ref. 50449). Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205). Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).
Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene, 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 506 p. (Ref. 2334)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic (Ref. 2334)
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 25.4 - 29.3, mean 28.5 °C (based on 2874 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5156 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01023 (0.00486 - 0.02155), b=3.06 (2.87 - 3.25), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±0.46 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming fecundity<100).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).
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Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 5.12 [0.57, 77.92] mg/100g; Iron = 0.354 [0.028, 3.818] mg/100g; Protein = 21.4 [18.7, 24.1] %; Omega3 = 0.0888 [, ] g/100g; Selenium = 41.6 [7.4, 202.0] μg/100g; VitaminA = 20.7 [1.8, 237.0] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.791 [0.052, 9.041] mg/100g (wet weight);
