First record of a stingray, Himantura fai collected from Iriomote Island, the Ryukyu Islands

Abstract

A stingray Himantura fai, collected from Iriomote Island (24°23'58'N, 123°47'05'E), the Ryukyu Islands, is described here as the first record from Japan. Comparisons with two congeneric species (H. gerrardi and H. uarnak) found in Japan reveal that this species is characterized in having a blunt snout tip, a dark long tail (length slightly over twice disc length when intact), higher count of intestinal turns (more than 28), and plainly dark brown coloration on dorsal part of disc. Its occurrence in Iriomote Island, the Ryukyu Islands, is the northernmost record of this species.