description Natal Butterfly Ray Overview
The Natal Butterfly Ray is a flattened cartilaginous fish species found in the southwestern Indian Ocean, particularly in coastal waters off South Africa. It is distinguished by its unusually broad pectoral disc and relatively short tail compared to other ray species. Like other butterfly rays, it is adapted to a benthic lifestyle, typically burying itself in sand or mud on the sea floor where it waits to ambush prey.
help Natal Butterfly Ray FAQ
What is the scientific name of the Natal Butterfly Ray?
The Natal Butterfly Ray is Gymnura natalensis, also called the diamond ray or backwater butterfly ray. Its disc is roughly twice as wide as it is long, giving it the broad diamond shape associated with butterfly rays. [South African Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre fact sheet](https://saambr.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ORI-Fish-Fact-Diamond-Ray-ZC-LB.pdf)
Where does Gymnura natalensis live?
Its known range runs from southern Namibia around the South African coast to southern Mozambique. It uses shallow surf zones, estuaries, sandy beaches, and offshore banks down to about 75 metres.
What does the Natal Butterfly Ray eat?
Its diet includes bony fish, with crustaceans, molluscs, and polychaete worms supplementing the diet. The ray's flattened body helps it stay close to sandy bottoms where this prey is found.
Does the Natal Butterfly Ray migrate?
Tag-recapture records show that the species can be highly mobile, with a reported mean movement of about 244 km. The available fact sheet says there is not yet a clear regular migration pattern.
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