Myliobatis

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Myliobatis
Temporal range: 65–0 Ma
Danian to Present[1]
Myliobatis californica monterey bay aquarium.jpg
Myliobatis californica
Scientific classification
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Myliobatis

Cuvier, 1816

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Myliobatis is a genus of eagle rays in the family Myliobatidae.

Description

Myliobatis species can reach a length of about 150 centimetres (59 in). Body consist of a rhomboidal disc, wider than long, with a one dorsal fin. The head is broad and short, with eyes and spiracles on the sides. The tail is slender, with 1-2 large spines at the base, without tail fin.[2]

The teeth are arranged in the lower and upper jaw in flat tooth plates called pavement teeth, each consisting of about 7 series of plates. Said mouth plates are useful to crush clam shells and crustaceans.[2]

Biology

Myliobatis species are ovoviviparous. Their gestation last about 6 months and a female produces 4-7 embryos. Myliobatis species mainly feed on molluscs, bottom-living crustaceans and small fishes.[3]

Habitat

These species live in warm, shallow waters. Adults prefer sandy shores while juveniles can usually be encountered offshore.[2][3]

Extant Species

There are currently 11 recognized species in this genus:[4]

Extinct Species

File:Myliobatidae - Mylobatis dixoni.JPG
Fossil tooth or plate of Myliobatis dixoni from Khouribga (Morocco), 55-45 mya

Extinct species within this genus include:[7]

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These eagle rays lived from the Cretaceous to the Quaternary periods (from 70.6 to 0.012 Ma). Fossils of these fishes have been found worldwide.[7]


The extinct species Myliobatis dixoni is known from Tertiary deposits along the Atlantic seaboards of the United States, Brazil, Nigeria, England, and Germany.[7]

Gallery

Bibliography

  • Aguiar, A.A., Gallo, V. & Valentin, J.L. (2004): Using the size independent discriminant analysis to distinguish the species of Myliobatis Cuvier (Batoidea: Myliobatidae) from Brazil. Zootaxa, 464: 1-7.
  • Compagno, L.J.V. (1999): Checklist of living elasmobranchs. A: Hamlett W.C. (ed.) Sharks, skates, and rays: the biology of elasmobranch fishes., The Johns Hopkins University Press: 471-498.
  • Garman, S. (1913): The Plagiostomia (Sharks, Skates and Rays). Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 36:1-515.
  • Gill, T.N. (1865): Note on the family of myliobatoids, and on a new species of Aetobatis. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York, 8: 135-138.
  • Walker, C. & Ward, D. (1993): - Fossielen: Sesam Natuur Handboeken, Bosch & Keuning, Baarn. ISBN 90-246-4924-2

See also

References

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  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Discover life
  3. 3.0 3.1 World Register of Marine Species
  4. White, W.T. (2014): A revised generic arrangement for the eagle ray family Myliobatidae, with definitions for the valid genera. Zootaxa, 3860 (2): 149–166.
  5. 5.0 5.1 White, W.T., Kawauchi, J., Corrigan, S., Rochel, E. & Naylor, G.J.P. (2015): Redescription of the eagle rays Myliobatis hamlyni Ogilby, 1911 and M. tobijei Bleeker, 1854 (Myliobatiformes: Myliobatidae) from the East Indo-West Pacific. Zootaxa, 3948 (3): 521–548.
  6. Ruocco, N.L., Lucifora, L.O., de Astarloa, J.M.D., Mabragaña, E. & Delpiani, S.M. (2012): Morphology and DNA barcoding reveal a new species of eagle ray from the Southwestern Atlantic: Myliobatis ridens sp. nov. (Chondrichthyes, Myliobatiformes, Myliobatidae). Zoological Studies, 51 (6): 862-873.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Shark References