Butterfly rayGymnuridae

Butterfly rays (Gymnuridae) are characterized by an exceptionally wide, flattened disc, formed by pectoral fins that extend broadly from a blunt head. Their disc width is typically more than 1.5 times its length. The tail is notably short and slender, often less than half the disc length, a feature reflected in the family name Gymnuridae, meaning 'naked tail'. Some species have one or more small, serrated spines on the tail. Dorsally, they are often sandy to grey-brown, enabling camouflage against the seabed, while their ventral surface is typically lighter. 🌊 Red Sea members of this family reach a disc width of up to 1 meter (3.3 ft).

They inhabit sandy or muddy bottoms, frequently near coral reefs or seagrass beds, from shallow intertidal areas down to depths of about 70 meters (230 ft). Butterfly rays feed on small bottom-dwelling fish, crustaceans, and molluscs. They often lie partially or fully buried in the substrate, relying on camouflage for ambush predation. When swimming, they propel themselves with undulating motions of their broad pectoral fins. Their cryptic nature and preference for soft, open substrates mean they are less commonly observed by divers compared to other ray species inhabiting the reefs.