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Geographic range:
West Atlantic Ocean, East Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Siam, Indian Ocean,
probably circumtropical.
Physical
characteristics: Head with a pair of pectoral lobes. Tail moderately
long, about 60% of the width of the disc in the adults. No barb on
the tail. Terminal mouth containing teeth in both the upper and the
lower jaw, arranged in mosaic-like pattern. Black or dark blue along
the back, predominantly white along the ventral side. Usually a green
patch is visible near the edge of the ventral side of pectoral fins.
Adults reach at least 180 cm across the disc and weigh around 55 kg.
The size of the disc in the newborn rays is around 65- 85 cm.
Food habits: Pelagic planctonfeeders.
Reproduction: Very low reproduction
rate, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years
Behavior: M.
thurstoni can be found individually, in small groups or schools
and is sometimes observed jumping clear out of water.
Habitat: Tropical seas of the world. Usually near reef and
rock formations.
Biomes:
reef, tropical coastal |
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