Porcupine Ray (species: Urogymnus asperrimus) in taxonomy (Gaia Guide)
Animalia > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Vertebrata > Pisces > Elasmobranchii > Neoselachii > Batoidea > Myliobatiformes > Dasyatidae > Urogymnus > Urogymnus asperrimus (gallery)
Urogymnus asperrimus
Porcupine Ray


©Olivier Cochard-Labbé: Porcupine Ray (Urogymnus asperrimus)

©Vanessa Messmer: Porcupine Ray at Lizard Island.

©Vanessa Messmer: Closeup of disc behind spiracles showing thorns on Porcupine Ray at Lizard Island

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Elasmobranchii
Order Myliobatiformes
Family Dasyatidae
Genus Urogymnus
Species Urogymnus asperrimus
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Distinguishing features

A large ray with a thick, almost circular body covered with small sharp thorns on the upper surface. Tail is thick and round in cross-section at the base, tapers rapidly, and does not have a stinging spine.

Size

  • Size data has not been obtained.

Wingspan

  • Up to 150 cm

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Local abundance

  • Lizard Island: Seen occasionally in sand near the bases of reefs.

Web resources

References

  • Last, P.R. and J.D. Stevens (2009). Sharks and Rays of Australia.: 2nd Edition CSIRO Publishing, Australia.
  • Siebeck, U.E. and N.J. Marshall (2001). Ocular media transmission of coral reef fish - can coral reef fish see ultraviolet light? Vision Research, 41: 133-149. LIRS catalog number 889.