What Divers Should Know About Butterfly Rays

Butterfly rays, from the genus Gymnura, are instantly recognizable in warm oceans worldwide and sometimes within estuaries. These remarkable elasmobranchs possess a dramatically flattened body, enveloped by an extremely broad disc formed by their pectoral fins. These fins seamlessly merge in front of the head, and their body tapers to a very short, almost thread-like tail.

Such a unique morphology gives them a striking appearance as they navigate their environment. Divers can be impressed by their sheer size, with some species reaching an astounding width of up to 4 meters (13 feet). As active predators, butterfly rays feed primarily on fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, playing a role in the benthic food web.