Brevitrygon manjajiae
Brevitrygon manjajiae, the sandwich-tail whipray, is a type of tropical ray of the family Dasyatidae found in Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea, north-west of Indian Ocean. It lives in the maximum depth of in general. This species is often deliberately targeted by local trawlers. In Persian Gulf area, it is considered a low-value catch and usually discarded. In contrast, it is a delicacy and sold locally in Indian seafood markets.
Description
The sandwich-tail whipray has several characteristics, including oval disc, small orbits, relatively short tail with ridge-like ventral fold, relatively small pelvic fins, and predominantly brownish dorsal surface. This species is at least disc width and might reach disc width.
Habitat & distribution
The sandwich-tail whipray inhabits the continental shelf across its distribution range at the depths of, and to in Gulf of Oman. This demersal ray faces direct threats because it is regularly captured in the coastal regions of Pakistan and western India. In India, it is retained as consumption and widely sold in traditional markets, mostly on Maharashtra and Gujarat. In Pakistan, the species is retained and usually exported to Southeast Asia for human consumption.