Family : Gymnuridae (Butterfly rays)
Order : Rajiformes  (skates and rays)
Class : Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays)
Fishbase Name : Japanese butterflyray
Fish Name : Gymnura japonica
Max size : 100.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 637)
Environment : demersal
Climate : tropical
Global Importance : fisheries:
Resilience: Very low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec assumed to be Distribution : Northwest Pacific: southern Japan to the China seas. Possibly in Thailand (Ref. 9918). Reported from India (Ref. 45255).
Diagnosis :
Biology : Inhabits sandy or muddy bottom in shallow waters (Ref. 11230). Feeds on benthic animals. Spines covered with skin with poisonous glands. Ovoviviparous. Used as 'kamaboko' material (Ref. 637). Caught often by demersal trawl, trammel and gillnet fisheries, and occasionally using tangle nets.Utilized for its meat, but of limited value due to its typically small size (Ref.58048)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : venomous , Masuda, H., C. Araga and T. Yoshino. 1975
Coordinator : McEachran, John
Main Ref : Masuda, H., K. Amaoka, C. Araga, T. Uyeno and T. Yoshino. 1984. (Ref. 559)

India country information
Common Names : மல்மி திருக்‍கை, தீருக்கன , Japnese butterfly ray, Mazhmi-thirukkai
Status : questionable
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses