Indonesian Shovelnose Ray

This species is distinguished by the following set of adult characters: disc broadly wedge-shaped, width 36-37% TL, length less than 1.3 (1.20-1.27) times width; snout moderately elongate, length 3-3.2 times interspiracular distance, 4-4.5 times interorbital width; orbit medium-sized, 1.4-1.6 times spiracle length; nostrils weakly oblique, length 1.3-1.4 times internarial distance; preoral length 6.9-7.1 times internarial distance; anterior nasal flaps penetrating slightly into internarial space, well separated at their insertion; posterior nasal flaps broad; two spiracular folds, outermost fold about twice height of inner fold; ridges of rostral cartilage almost parallel, converging slightly anteriorly, not constricted medially; anterior cartilage narrow, subtruncate to bilobed posteriorly; distance between fifth gill slits 2.6-3 times in ventral head length; prebranchial sensory pore patch distinct, extending to first gill slit; postscapular sensory canal obscure, exposed lateral pores absent, not grooved; thorn patches on supraorbit, scapular region, dorsal midline, small but distinct; pelvic-fin inner margin slightly shorter than its base; interdorsal distance more than 2.5 (2.7-2.9) times first dorsal-fin base; dorsal caudal margin 2.1-2.6 times preventral margin; upper teeth in 75-83 rows; post-synarcual centra 166-170; nasal lamellae more than 50 (53-57); dorsal fin obviously bicolored; dorsal disc with white spots (sometimes faint) (Ref. 72461).

Demersal inshore on inner insular shelf. Feeds on small crustaceans and probably small bony fishes. Males mature at 70-72 cm TL, females at 75 cm TL. Females have litters of 4-13 pups (Ref. 114953). Caught by fisherman using small demersal gill and trammel nets, and small demersal longlines (Ref. 72461).