An unusually large Manta birostris (Walbauoi), described elsewhere as. 'Devil Ray' or 'Devil Fish,' was landed by the investigation vessel, Fish Tech. No.
NOTE ON THE CATCH OF A GIANT RAY MANTA BIROSTRIS (WALBAUM) OFF VERAVAL, NORTH WEST COAST OF INDIA K. K. KUNJIPALU AND M. R. BOOPENDRANATH
Veravai Research Centre of Central Institute of Fisheries, Veraval-362265. A gainst Devil Ray, Manta birostris (iWalfaaum), caught off Veravail 'has been described. The specimen measured. 6800 mm (22 ft) acroiss the disc antii weighed; 2 torts. The spsci'men Js itihe largest ray so far reported from Indian waters.
An unusually large Manta birostris (Walbauoi), described elsewhere as 'Devil Ray' or 'Devil Fish,' was landed by the investigation vessel, Fish Tech No. 8, of the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology on 26-3-1980 from a fishing ground off Veravail, North West Coast of India. The fish was caught in one of the experimental mid-water itrawhvet, 25 m 'High-opening Trawl' from N the sea off Veravai having a depth of 40 metres. Measurements of the fish revealed that the specimen is the largest Ray fish to be reported (from Indian waters. The measurements and other morphological features of the fish caught are: 6800 mm (22 ft) Width of the disc 2200 mm Length of the disc 1700 mm Length of the toil 1000 mm Width of the mouth 850 mm Length of the cephalic fin ("horn") 2300 mm Length of the pectoral fin (from base to tip) 1100 mm Width of the pectoral fin (at base) 25 mm Diameter of the eye Terminal, wide at front of the Position of mouth head and in between the cephalic fins (horns) Rather rough with small tuberSkin cles. Dark grey on the dorsal surColour face and white on the Ventral surface. absent Caudal spine Female Sex 2000 kg. Weight 160 kg. Weight of liver
280
NOTES
The position! of mouth is below the head in Mobula dibolus (Shaw), the lesser Devil Ray andi Dicerabatis eregoodoo (Day), while it is! terminal in Manta birostric (Walbaum). The skin is quite smooth in M. dibolus (Shaw) and D. eregoodoo (Day), where as it is rather rough with tubercles in M. birostris (Walbaum). Misra (1952 and 1959) has described the genus Mahta and reported the occurence of the species M. birostris, in Indian waters. But the largest specimen obtained according to him, is only 1828 mm (6 ft) across the disc (Misra 1959). ; Authors exipress their thanks to the Director, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, for permitting this note to publish. They express their appreciation to Shri M. S. Fernando, Skipper, iand his crew for their efforts in bringing the ray to the shore. DAY, F. 19S8. The Fishes of India, 1: 744-45. MISRA, K. S. 1952. An Aid to the identification of the Fishes of India, Burma and Ceylon, .1: 1'30. MISRA, K. S. 1559. Rec. Indian Mus.. 57(1-4): lil
