Brevitrygon manjajiae
A tropical ray targeted by trawlers, valued as a delicacy in India.
Last updated
Brevitrygon manjajiae, commonly known as the sandwich-tail whipray, is a tropical ray of the family Dasyatidae found in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea, northwest of the Indian Ocean. It inhabits continental shelf depths up to 40 metres generally, and to 94 metres in the Gulf of Oman. This species is notable for being deliberately targeted by local trawlers, though its value varies by region: in the Persian Gulf it is considered a low-value catch and usually discarded, while in Indian seafood markets it is a delicacy sold locally.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassChondrichthyes
- SubclassElasmobranchii
- OrderMyliobatiformes
- FamilyDasyatidae
- GenusBrevitrygon
- SpeciesBrevitrygon manjajiae
Named by Last, Weigmann, & Naylor, 2023
Close relatives
Other species of Brevitrygon with a Codexery entry.
- Brevitrygon walga Brevitrygon walga
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Brevitrygon manjajiae (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 1806821 (CC BY 4.0)
Conservation status
Near Threatened (NT)
- LC
- NT▲ this species
- VU
- EN
- CR
- EW
- EX
Source: IUCN Red List assessment
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.35 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Brevitrygon manjajiae
Where the brevitrygon manjajiae has been recorded
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lore & Background
The sandwich-tail whipray is characterized by an oval disc, small orbits, a relatively short tail with a ridge-like ventral fold, relatively small pelvic fins, and a predominantly brownish dorsal surface. Its disc width is at least 25 cm and might reach 35 cm. The species is demersal, inhabiting the continental shelf across its range at depths of 40 m, and to 94 m in the Gulf of Oman.
This ray faces direct threats because it is regularly captured in coastal regions of Pakistan and western India. In India, it is retained as consumption and widely sold in traditional markets, mostly in Maharashtra and Gujarat. In Pakistan, the species is retained and usually exported to Southeast Asia for human consumption. In the Persian Gulf area, however, it is considered a low-value catch and is usually discarded.
Reader's Guide
The sandwich-tail whipray holds contrasting significance across its range. In the Persian Gulf, it is regarded as a low-value catch and typically discarded by trawlers, indicating minimal local economic importance. Conversely, in Indian seafood markets, particularly in Maharashtra and Gujarat, it is considered a delicacy and sold locally, reflecting a strong cultural and culinary value. In Pakistan, the species is retained and exported to Southeast Asia for human consumption, highlighting its role in regional trade.
The ray is deliberately targeted by local trawlers, and its regular capture in coastal regions of Pakistan and western India poses a direct threat to its populations. The species' demersal habitat on the continental shelf, at depths up to 94 metres in the Gulf of Oman, places it within reach of fishing operations. Its legacy is thus tied to its dual status as both a discarded bycatch in one region and a sought-after food item in another, with ongoing exploitation shaping its conservation outlook.
More in Rays
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Brevitrygon manjajiae (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List assessment.
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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