Myliobatiformes
Myliobatiformes (/mɪliˈɒbətɪfɔːrmiːz/), commonly known as stingrays, are one of the four orders of batoids, cartilaginous fishes related to sharks.[1][2] They are members of the subclass elasmobranchs.[3] They were formerly included in the order Rajiformes, but more recent phylogenetic studies have shown the myliobatiformes to be a monophyletic group, and its more derived members evolved their highly flattened shapes independently of the skates.[4][5]
Characteristics
[edit]Myliobatiformes share physical characteristics of a long, thin tail with serrated spines[6] and a pancake-like body.[7] They share many characteristics with the batoid order Rajiformes, in which they were previously included.[7] The key difference of the orders is the Myliobatiformes' single-lobed pelvic fin, lack of a mid-tail spine, and general lack of a dorsal fin.[7] Myliobatiformes also possess stinging spines along the tail's base, and generally possess large pectoral fins that are completely fused (except Myliobatidae) to the head.[8] They can camouflage from predators by using their flat, disk-shaped bodies to lie against the seafloor. [7]
Classification
[edit]Myliobatiformes is classified as follows in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes:[9]
- Family Zanobatidae Fowler. 1934 (panrays)
- Family Hexatrygonidae Heemstra & M. M. Smith, 1980 (sixgill stingrays)
- Family Dasyatidae D. S. Jordan & Gilbert, 1879 (whiptail stingrays)
- Subfamily Dasyatinae D. S. Jordan & Gilbert, 1879 (stingrays)
- Subfamily Neotrygoninae Castelnau, 1873 (shortsnout stingrays)
- Subfamily Urogymninae Gray, 1851 (whiprays)
- Subfamily Hypolophinae Stromer, 1910 (cowtail stingrays)
- Family Potamotrygonidae Garman, 1877 (neotropical stingrays)
- Subfamily Styracurinae Carvalho, Loboda & da Silva 2016 (whiptail stingrays)
- Subfamily Potamotrygoninae Garman 1877 (river stingrays)
- Family Urotrygonidae McEachran, Dunn & Miyake, 1996 (American round stingrays)
- Family Gymnuridae Fowler, 1934 (butterfly rays)
- Family Plesiobatidae K. Nishida, 1990 (deepwater stingrays or giant stingarees)
- Family Urolophidae J. P. Müller & Henle 1841 (round stingrays or stingarees)
- Family Aetobatidae Agassiz, 1858 (pelagic eagle rays)
- Family Myliobatidae Bonaparte 1835 (eagle rays)
- Family Rhinopteridae D. S, Jordan & Evermann, 1896 (cownose rays)
- Family Mobulidae Gill, 1893 (mantas or devil rays)
The family Aetobatidae is recognised by some authorities. It contains the genus Aetobatus, which is otherwise part of Myliobatinae. [10]
The families Myliobatidae and Rhombodontidae are sometimes grouped in their own superfamily, Myliobatoidea.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ Froese, R.; Pauly, D. "Myliobatiformes". WoRMS. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Order Summary for Myliobatiformes". FishBase. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "ITIS - Report: Myliobatiformes". www.itis.gov. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
- ^ Nelson, J.S. (2006). Fishes of the World (fourth ed.). John Wiley. pp. 69–82. ISBN 0-471-25031-7.
- ^ Martin, R. Aidan. "Myliobatiformes: Stingrays". ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ Stepanek, Rica (2011). A review of the evolution of potamotrygonid freshwater stingrays (Chondrichthyes, Myliobatiformes). Unknown Publisher (published 01/01/2011).
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|publication-date=(help) - ^ a b c d "Stingrays: Species". Retrieved 2025-03-28.
- ^ Ebert, David A.; Bigman, Jennifer S.; Lawson, Julia M. (2017-01-01), Larson, Shawn E.; Lowry, Dayv (eds.), "Chapter Two - Biodiversity, Life History, and Conservation of Northeastern Pacific Chondrichthyans", Advances in Marine Biology, Northeast Pacific Shark Biology, Research and Conservation Part A, vol. 77, Academic Press, pp. 9–78, doi:10.1016/bs.amb.2017.07.001, retrieved 2025-03-28
- ^ "Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes Classification". Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ White, William T.; Naylor, Gavin J.P. (2016). "Resurrection of the family Aetobatidae (Myliobatiformes) for the pelagic eagle rays, genus Aetobatus". Zootaxa. 4139 (3): 435–438. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4139.3.10. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 27470816.
- ^ Hoganson, John; Erickson, J. Mark; Holland, F. D. (2019). "Chondrichthyan and osteichthyan paleofaunas of the Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian) Fox Hills Formation of North Dakota, USA: paleoecology, paleogeography, and extinction. Bulletins of American Paleontology, No. 398: 1–94". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 398. doi:10.32857/bap.2019.398 (inactive 28 March 2025).
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of March 2025 (link)