The flapnose ray or Javanese cownose ray (''Rhinoptera javanica'') is a species of

fish A fish (: fish or fishes) is an aquatic animal, aquatic, Anamniotes, anamniotic, gill-bearing vertebrate animal with swimming fish fin, fins and craniate, a hard skull, but lacking limb (anatomy), limbs with digit (anatomy), digits. Fish can ...

in the family

Rhinopteridae ''Rhinoptera'' is a genus of Batoidea, ray commonly known as the cownose rays. This genus is the only member of the family (biology), family Rhinopteridae. These rays feed on mollusks and various other benthic prey. Their low fecundity rate and ...

. It is found in the

Indo-Pacific The Indo-Pacific is a vast biogeographic region of Earth. In a narrow sense, sometimes known as the Indo-West Pacific or Indo-Pacific Asia, it comprises the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the ...

off

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, the

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and possibly

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. Its natural

habitat In ecology, habitat refers to the array of resources, biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species' habitat can be seen as the physical manifestation of its ...

s are open

sea A sea is a large body of salt water. There are particular seas and the sea. The sea commonly refers to the ocean, the interconnected body of seawaters that spans most of Earth. Particular seas are either marginal seas, second-order section ...

s, shallow seas, subtidal aquatic beds,

coral reef A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster in group ...

estuarine An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and maritime environm ...

waters, and coastal saline

lagoon A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water by a narrow landform, such as reefs, barrier islands, barrier peninsulas, or isthmuses. Lagoons are commonly divided into ''coastal lagoons'' (or ''barrier lagoons'') an ...

Conservation

The Javanese cownose ray's population has undergone alarming declines throughout its range. In various regions, substantial population reductions have been observed, ranging from 50% to 79% over the last three generation lengths (44 years). High exploitation levels and significant declines in elasmobranchs, rays, and whiprays indicate a dire situation. Overfishing, particularly in Chinese and Vietnamese waters, has raised concerns about the species' survival.

Threats

Fishing pressures and overexploitation

The Javanese cownose ray faces extensive fishing pressures, with both targeted and bycatch capture, across the entirety of its range. These pressures originate from various fishing methods, including demersal trawl, purse seines, tangle nets, set nets, gill nets, droplines, longlines, and Danish seine. The rays are often retained for human consumption or processed into fishmeal.

Decline in fish stocks and overfishing

In specific regions like the northern South China Sea, intense overfishing has led to a drastic decline in fish stocks over the years. The use of modern fishing gear, the increase in the number of fishing vessels, and changes in catch composition have added to this problem. With the demand for seafood on the rise, particularly in countries like China, the pressures on fish stocks are growing.

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a pervasive issue in the Indo-Pacific region. Reported catch figures often represent only a fraction of the actual catch, exacerbating the problem of overfishing and depletion of shark and ray populations. Some marine protected areas (MPAs) are also affected by high levels of IUU fishing.

References

Rhinoptera Fish of Indonesia Fish described in 1841 Taxa named by Johannes Peter Müller Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Rajiformes-stub