Pastinachus
Encyclopedia
Pastinachus is a genus
of stingray
s in the family Dasyatidae. This genus was long held to be monotypic
, containing only the cowtail stingray
(P. sephen). Recent studies of Indo-Pacific
stingrays have revealed that there are in fact a number of different species of Pastinachus, and that some former junior synonyms
may need to be resurrected.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of stingray
Stingray
The stingrays are a group of rays, which are cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. They are classified in the suborder Myliobatoidei of the order Myliobatiformes, and consist of eight families: Hexatrygonidae , Plesiobatidae , Urolophidae , Urotrygonidae , Dasyatidae , Potamotrygonidae The...
s in the family Dasyatidae. This genus was long held to be monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
, containing only the cowtail stingray
Cowtail stingray
The cowtail stingray, Pastinachus sephen, is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae, widespread in the Indo-Pacific region and occasionally entering freshwater habitats. Other common names include banana-tail ray, drab stingray, fantail ray, feathertail stingray, and frill tailed sting ray...
(P. sephen). Recent studies of Indo-Pacific
Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific is a biogeographic region of the Earth's seas, comprising the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two in the general area of Indonesia...
stingrays have revealed that there are in fact a number of different species of Pastinachus, and that some former junior synonyms
Synonym (taxonomy)
In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
may need to be resurrected.
Species
- Pastinachus atrus (MacleayWilliam John MacleaySir William John Macleay . was an Australian politician, zoologist and naturalist.-Early life:Macleay was born at Wick, Caithness, Scotland, second son of Kenneth Macleay of Keiss and his wife Barbara, née Horne...
, 1883) - Pastinachus gracilicaudus Last & Manjaji-Matsumoto, 2010 (Narrowtail stingray)
- Pastinachus sephen (ForsskålPeter ForsskålPeter Forsskål, sometimes spelled Pehr Forsskål, Peter Forskaol, Petrus Forskål or Pehr Forsskåhl, was a Swedish explorer, orientalist, naturalist and an apostle of Carl Linnaeus.-Early life:...
, 1775) (Cowtail stingray) - Pastinachus solocirostris Last, Manjaji & Yearsley, 2005 (Roughnose stingray)
- Pastinachus stellurostris Last, Fahmi & Naylor, 2010 (Starrynose stingray)