DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

ZOOGEOGRAPHY

ECOLOGY

BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR

VALUE OF FISH RESOURCES

CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

DANGEROUS MARINE FISHES

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

BIBLIOGRAPHY

SPECIES INDEX

CHAMORRO NAMES

DASYATIDAE (STINGRAYS)

Taeniura meyeni (Müller and Henle)
(Giant Reef Ray; Afula)
Width:  to 164 cm; Wt: to 154 kg (photo: by Anne Maben, Double Reef)

This is the largest of the two bottom-dwelling rays known from coral reefs in the Mariana Is.  It is relatively uncommon but occurs in a variety of habitats ranging from shallow lagoons to outer reef slopes (as deep as 235 m off Mozambique).  It is known to feed on both sand-dwelling and reef- dwelling fishes; the latter are probably taken at night when asleep.  No specimens have yet been collected in the Marianas, but it has been photographed in Guam, Saipan, and Aguijan.

INDO-PACIFIC: Red Sea to the Marshalls, n. to s. Japan, s. to New Caledonia.