Pastinachus stellurostris

Pastinachus stellurostris, the starrynose cowtail ray, is a type of tropical ray of the family Dasyatidae found mainly in Indonesia, specifically the estuary of Kapuas River in West Kalimantan. It is believed to inhabit both freshwater and brackish water. This species is threatened by local fisheries due to being captured either deliberately or accidentally.

Description

Not much is known about the biology, but investigations have been undergone and suggest that the starrynose cowtail ray can reach a maximum size of approximately 43 cm disc width. The name "stellurostris", composed of the words "stella"/"starry" and "rostrum"/"snout", refers to the main characteristic of this species: star-shaped denticles on the snout.

Habitat & distribution

The starrynose cowtail ray is originally known from West Kalimantan, Indonesia, albeit more recent studies indicate its existence in the Gulf of Thailand. This demersal ray lives in shallow, fresh or brackish waters of an unknown depth. It is often caught as target or bycatch by small-scale local fisheries.