Telatrygon acutirostra
A vulnerable stingray with a sharp snout, known only from Japan and the East China Sea.
The sharpnose stingray (*Telatrygon acutirostra*) is a poorly understood ray from the Dasyatidae family, inhabiting waters off southern Japan and the East China Sea. It has a rounded pectoral disc and a notably long, pointed snout, which led to it being frequently mistaken for the smaller pale-edged stingray (*T. zugei*). Key differences from *T. zugei* include larger eyes and the lack of a dorsal fin fold on the tail. Because its range appears limited, the IUCN lists this species as Vulnerable, as it is especially vulnerable to rising fishing pressure.
Before its formal description, *T. acutirostra* was regularly confused with *T. zugei*, a mix-up that dates back at least to Jordan and Fowler’s 1903 review of Japanese sharks and rays. In 1988, Kiyonori Nishida and Kazuhiro Nakaya clarified the *T. zugei* species complex and formally described *T. acutirostra* in the Japanese Journal of Ichthyology. Its scientific name comes from Latin *acuti* (“sharp”) and *rostra* (“snout”). The type specimen is an adult male measuring 72.5 cm (28.5 in) across, caught by trawl in the East China Sea.
This species is known from southern Japan and the East China Sea at depths of 53–142 m (174–466 ft), with a possible record from the Gulf of Guayaquil off Ecuador. Like most stingrays, it lives on the seafloor.
The pectoral disc is roughly as wide as it is long, with rounded outer edges and concave leading margins that flow into a long, triangular snout. Its eyes are small, with larger spiracles behind them. A skin curtain between the nostrils has a fringed, straight rear edge. The mouth is slightly curved and lacks papillae on the floor. It has 40–51 upper tooth rows and 39–49 lower rows, arranged in a quincunx pattern to form pavement-like surfaces. Adult males have pointed tooth cusps, unlike juveniles and females. The pelvic fins are wide and triangular. The whip-like tail is longer than the disc and carries 1–2 stinging spines on top. A subtle dorsal keel and a low ventral fin fold sit behind the spine. A row of 30 tubercles runs along the back’s midline, with another row of 16 in front of the spine. The tail behind the spine is covered in small denticles. Coloration is light brown above and white below. The largest known specimen has a disc width of 72.5 cm (28.5 in). It differs from *T.
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Telatrygon
- Species
- acutirostra
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Prior to being scientifically described, Telatrygon acutirostra was confused with Telatrygon zugei; the two species have been confounded by various authors since at least Jordan and Fowler's 1903 review of Japanese elasmobranchs. In 1988, Kiyonori Nishida and Kazuhiro Nakaya published a study of the T. zugei species complex with a description of T. acutirostra, in the Japanese Journal of Ichthyology. The specific epithet comes from the Latin acuti ('sharp') and rostra ('snout'). The type specimen is an adult male 72.5 cm across, trawled from the East China Sea.
The pectoral fin disc is about as wide as it is long, with rounded outer margins and concave leading margins merging with a long, triangular snout. The eyes are small and followed by larger spiracles. The tail is whip-like and longer than the disc, bearing 1-2 stinging spines on the upper surface. A subtle dorsal keel and low ventral fin fold are present behind the spine. There is a row of 30 tubercles along the midline of the back, and another row of 16 tubercles in front of the spine. The coloration is light brown above and white below. This species can be distinguished from T. zugei by larger eyeball size, absence of a dorsal fin fold on the tail, larger maturation size, and various meristic characters.
Virtually nothing is known of the natural history of T. acutirostra. One male specimen 35.4 cm across was immature, while another 72.5 cm across was mature. It is presumably aplacental viviparous like other stingrays. The species is known from off southern Japan and in the East China Sea at a depth of 53–142 m, though there is also a possible record from the Gulf of Guayaquil off Ecuador.
Reader's Guide
Telatrygon acutirostra is significant primarily as a little-known species that was only formally described in 1988, resolving a long-standing confusion with the similar T. zugei. Its restricted distribution—known with certainty only off southern Japan and in the East China Sea—makes it vulnerable to increasing fishing pressure, leading the IUCN to assess it as Vulnerable. The species likely forms part of coastal bottom trawl and set net fishery catches off Japan and elsewhere, though specific utilization data is required. Its legacy lies in highlighting how taxonomic clarification can reveal hidden biodiversity and conservation needs among commercially caught rays. The possible record from the Gulf of Guayaquil off Ecuador, if confirmed, would greatly expand its known range, but the article notes this is uncertain. As a benthic stingray with a maximum disc width of 72.5 cm, it represents a modest-sized member of the Dasyatidae family, and its biology remains almost entirely unknown, underscoring the need for further research.
Did You Know?
- The specific epithet acutirostra comes from Latin acuti ('sharp') and rostra ('snout').
- Telatrygon acutirostra can be distinguished from the similar T. zugei by larger eyeball size and the absence of a dorsal fin fold on the tail.
- The IUCN has assessed this species as Vulnerable due to its restricted distribution and susceptibility to fishing pressure.
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