Porcupine Ray

Porcupine Ray Facts

• Perhaps most notably, the remarkable and fascinating Porcupine Ray qualifies as an extremely rare species of ray. In point of fact, this creature also currently remains the only known member  of its genus. Few species known to man can make such a claim.
• Among professional researchers, the fascinating animal remains best known by its official, scientific name, That, however, is the extremely hard to pronounce term of Urogymnus asperrimus. By either name, though, it’s a remarkable work of Nature.
• But, this intriguing ocean animal does not remain well-known just for that reason alone, impressive though it may be. That holds true for a very good reason, in fact. This occurs due to the fact that the animal also remains unique in several other ways.
• For one thing, unlike many related species, this creature typically remains calm and sedate in its actions. This is easily evidenced by the fact that individuals remain extremely calm. As a result of this, many often tolerate the approach of divers.
• Unfortunately, however, the population of this amazing species appear to be dwindling. Even worse, this marvel of Nature does not yet enjoy any protection under the law. Understandably, therefore, given these factors the IUCN presently lists it as Vulnerable.

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Porcupine Ray Physical Description

The Porcupine Ray remains quite a large variety of ray, though by no means the largest of them all. That’s because the animal attains an average body size of 3.9 ft (1.2 m) across. Exceptional individuals exceed this significantly, sometimes measuring as much as 4.9 ft (1.5 m).

The coloring varies between individuals, and can be either various shades of gray or brown. The eyes further develop quite small, and appear placed comparatively close together. The area surrounding the mouth also develops as heavily covered by papillae.

Most of all, it remains famous, or perhaps notorious, for its thorny projections. These physical features cover most of the body. However, these attributes evolved to serve a purpose. That holds true due to the fact that these actually form a defense mechanism.

One more feature further distinguishes the aptly-named Porcupine Ray from other rays more than any of the one’s previously mentioned. As  it turns out, this particular type of ray forms the only member of its family that does not possess a venomous spine.

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Chondrichthyes
• Order: Myliobatiformes
• Family: Dasyatidae
• Genus: Urogymnus
• Species: U. asperrimus

Porcupine Ray Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The magnificent Porcupine Ray has another factor in its favor. That’s that it inhabits a range that extends across a wide territory range, even though the population density remains sparse. That’s because part of its endemic range includes the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

The intriguing creature also inhabits portions of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Within that range, furthermore, it predominantly lives as a bottom-dweller. The amazing fish also prefers to inhabit shallow water areas of coral, sandy bottom, or seagrass.

In keeping with this preference, individuals of the species rarely live at depths that exceed 100 ft (30 m). Wherever individuals appear, though, all of them exhibit the same general behavioral patterns. That fact includes dietary prefrences, among many others.

The diet of this variety of ray primarily consists of comparatively small bony fishes. But, it also dines on various forms of small invertebrates native to its habitat region. This mostly includes crustaceans and sea worms. These it typically digs out from the ocean floor. 

Habitat degradation, primarily due to coastal development, also appears to be the leading threat to the Porcupine Ray. Nevertheless, certain other factors threaten it as well. In this, at least, the animal mirrors the situation of counteless other marine species.

High on any such list of threats to the existence of the Porcupine Ray appears the facctor of commercial fishing practices. Various coastal fisheries often unintentionally catch it during their activities. Given its already precarious position, this poses a true threat.

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