266 Giant Butterfly Ray 



Color: Upper surface of body red-brown, green-brown, 

 gray-brown, or greenish gray. Lower surface white. 

 Distribution: Found regularly in coastal waters from Brazil 

 to Virginia and as an occasional straggler north as far as 

 southern Massachusetts. 



Size: Maximum size reported as about 3 feet wide. 

 General Information: Common in depths less than 10 feet 

 and has never been taken in depths below 30 feet. It feeds 

 mostly on worms and shellfish but also eats shrimp, crabs, 

 and fish. Observations in subtropical and tropical waters 

 indicate that the young are probably born in these zones at 

 all times of the year. They are 6-7 inches wide at birth. 

 Economic Importance: None. 



Giant Butterfly Ray 

 Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus) 



Color: Color very variable. Upper surface of body dark 

 red-brown, gray-brown or coffee brown. Scattered darker 

 or lighter dots or blotches. Lower surface white. 

 Distribution: Tropical and temperate waters on both sides 

 of the Atlantic. In the western Atlantic, found from south- 

 ern Massachusetts to Argentina. 



Size: The maximum size reported from the western Atlantic 

 was almost 7 feet wide. 



General Information: Relatively rare on the American 

 Atlantic Coast. Most often found in shoal water but has 

 been taken at a depth of 180 feet. Newborn young are 

 probably 15-18 inches wide. 

 Economic Importance: None. 



