# Aerial imagery reveals abnormal stingrays, Taeniura lymma (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), in the central Red Sea

## TL;DR

Aerial images show two stingrays in the Red Sea with rare, symmetrically deformed fins, possibly due to genetics.

## Contribution

First report of a morphological abnormality in Taeniura lymma and the first record of a symmetrically deformed posterior pectoral fin in batomorphs.

## Key findings

- Two bluespotted ribbontail rays showed symmetrically deformed posterior pectoral fins.
- The deformity likely has a genetic basis due to its similarity in both individuals.
- The deformity did not hinder survival, as both rays reached a size larger than typical birth size.

## Abstract

While morphological abnormalities have been widely reported in batomorphs, ontogenetic deformities of the posterior pectoral fin are rare. In this paper, we present two individuals of the bluespotted ribbontail ray, Taeniura lymma (Forsskål, 1775), with symmetrically deformed posterior pectoral fins. Both individuals were observed through aerial imagery on a coastal sandflat in the central Red Sea (22.30° N, 39.09° E). The similarity of this symmetrical deformity in both individuals indicates it likely has a genetic base. However, lacking access to the specimens, the ultimate cause of the abnormality remains uncertain. The incomplete disk closure did not seem to affect survival, as both individuals had reached a disk width of 22 cm, well above the typical birth size of the species. Our observations constitute both the first report of a morphological abnormality in T. lymma and the first record of a batomorph with a symmetrically deformed posterior pectoral fin.

In this paper, we present two individuals of the bluespotted ribbontail ray, Taeniura lymma (Forsskål, 1775), with symmetrically deformed posterior pectoral fins. Both individuals were observed through aerial imagery on a coastal sandflat in the central Red Sea (22.30° N, 39.09° E). Our observations constitute the first report of a morphological abnormality in T. lymma.