Aerial Imagery Reveals Abnormal Stingray, Taeniura lymma (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), in the Central Red Sea
ABSTRACT While morphological abnormalities have been widely reported in batomorphs, ontogenetic deformities of the posterior pectoral fin are rare. In this paper, we present a bluespotted ribbontail ray, Taeniura lymma (Forsskål, 1775), with symmetrically deformed posterior pectoral fins. The specim...
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2024-12-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70411 |
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| author | Ioana Andreea Ciocănaru Brian Owain Nieuwenhuis Raquel Lubambo Ostrovski Jesse E. M. Cochran Ashlie J. McIvor Burton H. Jones |
| author_facet | Ioana Andreea Ciocănaru Brian Owain Nieuwenhuis Raquel Lubambo Ostrovski Jesse E. M. Cochran Ashlie J. McIvor Burton H. Jones |
| author_sort | Ioana Andreea Ciocănaru |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT While morphological abnormalities have been widely reported in batomorphs, ontogenetic deformities of the posterior pectoral fin are rare. In this paper, we present a bluespotted ribbontail ray, Taeniura lymma (Forsskål, 1775), with symmetrically deformed posterior pectoral fins. The specimen was observed through aerial imagery on a coastal sandflat in the central Red Sea (22.30° N, 39.09° E). The bilateral symmetry of the deformity indicates it likely has a genetic base. However, lacking access to the specimen, the ultimate cause of the abnormality remains uncertain. The incomplete disk closure did not seem to affect survival, as the specimen reached a disk width of 22 cm, well above the regional size at sexual maturity. Our observations constitute both the first report of a morphological abnormality in T. lymma and the first record of a batomorph with a symmetrically deformed posterior pectoral fin. In this paper, we present a bluespotted ribbontail ray, Taeniura lymma (Forsskål, 1775), with symmetrically deformed posterior pectoral fins. The specimen was observed through aerial imagery on a coastal sandflat in the central Red Sea (22.30° N, 39.09° E). Our observations constitute both the first report of a morphological abnormality in T. lymma and the first record of a batomorph with a symmetrically deformed posterior pectoral fin. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-59fd9d98ff6b419ea03cb1fcc5d4908a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-59fd9d98ff6b419ea03cb1fcc5d4908a2025-08-20T02:56:02ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582024-12-011412n/an/a10.1002/ece3.70411Aerial Imagery Reveals Abnormal Stingray, Taeniura lymma (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), in the Central Red SeaIoana Andreea Ciocănaru0Brian Owain Nieuwenhuis1Raquel Lubambo Ostrovski2Jesse E. M. Cochran3Ashlie J. McIvor4Burton H. Jones5Marine Science Program, Biological, Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal Saudi ArabiaMarine Science Program, Biological, Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal Saudi ArabiaMarine Science Program, Biological, Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal Saudi ArabiaMarine Science Program, Biological, Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Environmental Protection and Regeneration Red Sea Global Tabuk Saudi ArabiaMarine Science Program, Biological, Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal Saudi ArabiaABSTRACT While morphological abnormalities have been widely reported in batomorphs, ontogenetic deformities of the posterior pectoral fin are rare. In this paper, we present a bluespotted ribbontail ray, Taeniura lymma (Forsskål, 1775), with symmetrically deformed posterior pectoral fins. The specimen was observed through aerial imagery on a coastal sandflat in the central Red Sea (22.30° N, 39.09° E). The bilateral symmetry of the deformity indicates it likely has a genetic base. However, lacking access to the specimen, the ultimate cause of the abnormality remains uncertain. The incomplete disk closure did not seem to affect survival, as the specimen reached a disk width of 22 cm, well above the regional size at sexual maturity. Our observations constitute both the first report of a morphological abnormality in T. lymma and the first record of a batomorph with a symmetrically deformed posterior pectoral fin. In this paper, we present a bluespotted ribbontail ray, Taeniura lymma (Forsskål, 1775), with symmetrically deformed posterior pectoral fins. The specimen was observed through aerial imagery on a coastal sandflat in the central Red Sea (22.30° N, 39.09° E). Our observations constitute both the first report of a morphological abnormality in T. lymma and the first record of a batomorph with a symmetrically deformed posterior pectoral fin.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70411 |
| spellingShingle | Ioana Andreea Ciocănaru Brian Owain Nieuwenhuis Raquel Lubambo Ostrovski Jesse E. M. Cochran Ashlie J. McIvor Burton H. Jones Aerial Imagery Reveals Abnormal Stingray, Taeniura lymma (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), in the Central Red Sea Ecology and Evolution |
| title | Aerial Imagery Reveals Abnormal Stingray, Taeniura lymma (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), in the Central Red Sea |
| title_full | Aerial Imagery Reveals Abnormal Stingray, Taeniura lymma (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), in the Central Red Sea |
| title_fullStr | Aerial Imagery Reveals Abnormal Stingray, Taeniura lymma (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), in the Central Red Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aerial Imagery Reveals Abnormal Stingray, Taeniura lymma (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), in the Central Red Sea |
| title_short | Aerial Imagery Reveals Abnormal Stingray, Taeniura lymma (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), in the Central Red Sea |
| title_sort | aerial imagery reveals abnormal stingray taeniura lymma myliobatiformes dasyatidae in the central red sea |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70411 |
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