Maculabatis, Last, Peter R., Naylor, Gavin J. P. & Manjaji-Matsumoto, B. Mabel, 2016

Last, Peter R., Naylor, Gavin J. P. & Manjaji-Matsumoto, B. Mabel, 2016, A revised classification of the family Dasyatidae (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes) based on new morphological and molecular insights, Zootaxa 4139 (3), pp. 345-368 : 361-362

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4139.3.2

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DCF4220B-4A73-407C-837C-54DEAE29F435

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6085237

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A7CA1D-857A-1441-E7C6-F9F7FD7A05CE

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Maculabatis
status

gen. nov.

Genus Maculabatis View in CoL View at ENA gen. nov.

Type species Trygon gerrardi Gray, 1851:116 ; newly proposed.

Definition. Small to large dasyatids (adults to 42–116 cm DW) characterised by the following: firm, rather depressed to robust, suboval to rhombic disc with pectoral-fin apex narrowly angular to rounded; snout broadly angular, short to moderately elongate (1.7–2.7 times combined orbit and spiracle length); eye small and protruding slightly; nasal curtain skirt-shaped; mouth narrow with 2–5 oral papillae (lateral papillae present in most species); tail long, whip-like (length 1.8–3.4 times DW), its base typically narrow and oval to almost circular in cross section; pelvic fins small, almost entirely concealed by disc; dorsal fold and ventral folds absent; caudal sting close to tail base (distance from pectoral-fin insertion to caudal-sting base 1.9–2.5 times interspiracular width); 1–3 variably developed mid-scapular thorns or thorns in row on nape, no other scapular thorns; denticle band well developed with edge sharply defined, skin on rest of disc naked or with patchy denticles; no row of enlarged median thorns on tail, fine denticles posteriorly in most adults; dorsal surface plain or with spotted colour pattern; ventral surface white, disc sometimes dark or yellow edged; posterior tail typically half or fully banded in young; marine, Indo– West Pacific.

Etymology. Combination of the Latin macula (stain, mark, spot) and batis (skate, ray, flatfish) alludes to the spotted coloration and/or black-and-white banded tail of most members of the genus.

Species. M. astra (Last, Manjaji-Matsumoto & Pogonoski, 2008) , M. gerrardi (Gray, 1851) , M. macrura (Bleeker, 1852) , M. pastinacoides (Bleeker, 1852) , M. randalli (Last, Manjaji-Matsumoto & Moore, 2012) , M. toshi (Whitley, 1939) and three undescribed species.

Remarks. Newly erected, morphologically similar genus consisting of nine medium to large, marine whiprays previously placed in Himantura . The group contains at least three new species that are presently being described by the authors and their associates. Molecular analyses have divided the group into two subgroups; one containing largely black-spotted and/or white-spotted whiprays (gerrardi-complex), and another of largely plain-coloured whiprays (pastinacoides-complex) (see Fig. 3).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

ParvPhylum

Chondrichthyes

Class

Elasmobranchii

Order

Myliobatiformes

Family

Dasyatidae

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