Range and Identity
Gymnura micrura is treated here using the southwestern Atlantic account extending from Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago toward Brazil. Older broad butterfly-ray records should not automatically be assigned to this identity where related species have been distinguished.
Habitat and Behavior
The ray occupies coastal shelf water over soft bottom and may enter brackish estuaries or hypersaline lagoons. Fishes, shrimp, other crustaceans and clams are recorded foods. These varied salinity settings do not mean every population follows an identical seasonal movement.
Food and Life History
The upper reference is 137 centimeters disc width, with ninety centimeters as a common width. A zero-gram placeholder is not a real maximum weight and is excluded. Young develop internally, initially using yolk and later receiving additional maternal nourishment.
Field Note
Write disc width explicitly with a measurement. Comparing the width of this ray with the total length of a narrow-bodied fish would otherwise create a misleading size comparison.
All Lakes With Smooth Butterfly Ray
Browse lakes and reservoirs with documented Smooth Butterfly Ray records, listed alphabetically. Records do not establish current abundance or public access. Check the evidence and managing authority for the water you choose.
No published lakes are currently linked to this species in our confirmed records.