Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Myliobatiformes
- Family
- Gymnuridae
- Genus
- Gymnura
- Species
- altavela
Habitat
This species inhabits shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and sandy or muddy bottoms in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea. It prefers warm temperate and tropical regions, often at depths up to 50 meters, where it can bury itself in the substrate.
Diet
The spiny butterfly ray primarily feeds on bottom-dwelling invertebrates such as crabs, shrimp, and mollusks, as well as small fish. It uses its wide disc to pin down prey and crushes shells with its flat, pavement-like teeth. Feeding activity peaks at night when it actively forages along the seafloor.
Behavior
Spiny butterfly rays are typically solitary or found in small groups, spending much of the day buried in sand for camouflage and emerging at night to hunt. They exhibit benthic foraging behavior, using their pectoral fins to stir up the substrate. While not strongly territorial, they may defend feeding areas if threatened.
Conservation Status
Listed as Vulnerable by IUCN.