Description
Plesiotrygon iwamae, also known as the Iwama whipray, is a species of whipray native to the waters of the western Pacific Ocean. This unique species was only recently discovered and described in 2003, making it one of the newest and least known species of whipray in the world.
The Plesiotrygon iwamae is known for its distinctive appearance, with a brownish-grey coloration that is covered in small dark spots and a dark band running down its back. The species has a relatively large body, with a maximum length of 1.3 meters and a maximum width of 0.6 meters. The Iwama whipray has a long and slender tail that can be nearly twice its body length, and is covered in small spines that are used for defense against predators.
The Plesiotrygon iwamae is a bottom-dwelling species that primarily feeds on small fish, crustaceans, and other invertebrates that it finds in the sand and mud of the ocean floor. The species is known to be active during the day and to spend much of its time swimming in shallow waters, close to the shore.