Biology:Hyuga fanray

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Short description: Ray species

Hyuga fanray
File:Plhyu f0.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Superorder: Batoidea
Order: Torpediniformes
Family: Platyrhinidae
Genus: Platyrhina
Species:
P. hyugaensis
Binomial name
Platyrhina hyugaensis
Iwatsuki, Miyamoto & Nakaya, 2011[2]
Platyrhina hyugaensis distmap.jpg
Range of Hyuga fanray

The Hyuga fanray (Platyrhina hyugaensis) is a type of ray of the family Platyrhinidae. It is an endemic species of southern Japan and inhabits shallow region at the depths of 1–50 m (3 ft 3 in–164 ft 1 in).[2] The population of this ray are decreasing due to continuous human exploitation.[1][3]

Description

The Hyuga fanray can be differentiated from its congeners because of numerous characteristics, including a pair of thorns on anterior part of scapular section, a row of thorns on mid-dorsum of tail, and dermal denticles of uniform size and shape covering the dorsal surface.[2]

Habitat and distribution

This species is known to live in the continental shelf at depths of 1–50 m (3 ft 3 in–164 ft 1 in). Its endemic and common habitat is Hyūga Sea in southern Miyazaki Prefecture, although there have also been several discoveries in Kagoshima and Mie Prefectures.[1][2]

The Hyuga fanray experiences a decline in population because it is often taken as bycatch with gillnets or trawls, and probably is used for human consumption.[1] It is predicted that the ray has undergone a population depletion of up to 49% over the past 21 years.[1]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q5027903 entry