Medium size cowtail ray with a broad rhomboid disc, and rounded apices; snout broadly rounded, tip blunt; tail long and broad-based, with membranous ventral fin fold, ventral tail fold high (3.5-4.8 times of tail depth behind spine); upper surface uniform, yellowish brown to greyish tail fold and tip black; ventral surface mostly white, with narrow black margins

Biology

Length: This species reaches at least 89 cm disc width. 

Gestation period: Unknown

Littter size: Maximum size and biology is poorly known due to confusion amongst Pastinachus spp.

Life Expectancy: Generation length is estimated at 20 years based on age data from Maculabatis astra

Diet: Feeds on bony fishes, worms, shrimp, and crabs.

Habitat and Distribution

Habitat: The Cowtail Ray is benthic in coastal habitats, and occurs over soft substrates, often near coral reefs.

Distribution: The Cowtail Ray is presumably indigenous to the Arabian Seas region, while its precise location is unknown due to Pastinachus species confusion and recent taxonomic changes within the genus.

Known landing centres: Junglighat, Burmanallah, Wandoor, Dignabad, Cochin Fisheries Harbour, Malvan, New Ferry Wharf, Karachi Fish Harbour and Thoothukudi

Depth: 0-60 m

Commercial Value

Regularly captured in trawl, gillnet and longline fisheries. Along the Indian west coast annual landings of cowtail rays have fluctuated between ~14 to 40 tonnes in recent years.

Threats

High levels of disturbance and deterioration of their habitat due to dredging, reclamation, industrial activities, and habitat destruction by the removal of shallow productive areas.

References

• Kizhakudan, Shoba Joe and Akhilesh, K V and Thomas, Sujitha and Yousuf, K S S M and Sobhana, K S and Purushottama, G B and Muktha, M and Dash, Swatipriyanka Sen and Manojkumar, P P and Nair, Rekha J and Najmudeen, T M and Zacharia, P U (2018) Field identification of batoids – a guide to Indian species. CMFRI Special Publication (132). ICAR - Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi.