Filling a Gap on the Blank Distribution of the Giant Freshwater Stingray Urogymnus Polylepis: First Records in Malay Peninsula (Chondrichthyes: Dasyatidae)

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Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters/IEF-1112/pp. 1-4 Published 16 December 2019 LSID: http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C0184D2F-1565-4C49-943B-F5EBE2996A4F DOI: http://doi.org/10.23788/IEF-1112

Filling a gap on the blank distribution of the giant freshwater stingray Urogymnus polylepis: first records in Malay Peninsula (Chondrichthyes: Dasyatidae)

Muhammad Iqbal*, Indra Yustian**, Arum Setiawan**, Elisa Nurnawati** and Hilda Zulkifli**

Only a small proportion of stingrays (Dasyati- Fluvitrygon oxyrhynchus and F. signifer were only dae) occurs in freshwater, and includes obligate known from five or fewer major riverine systems freshwater species and euryhaline species (Last (Compagno, 2016a-b; Last et al., 2016a), though et al., 2016a). The giant freshwater stingray Uro- recent surveys yielded a single record of F. oxy- gymnus polylepis belongs to a group of species rhynchus and ten records of F. signifier in the Musi found mainly in fresh and brackish water and drainage, South Sumatra, indicating that both spe- is characterized by a large body size, report- cies are more widely distributed than previously edly attaining more than 600 kg and 2 m disc expected (Iqbal et al., 2017, 2018). In addition, diameter (Monkolprasit & Roberts, 1990; Kot- although the records of Urogymnus polylepis has telat et al., 1993). Recently, a total of 97 species increased (Iqbal & Yustian, 2016; Last et al., 2016a; of Dasyatidae has been confirmed worldwide Windusari et al., 2018), information on this spe- (Pollerspöck & Straube, 2019), including at least cies is still lacking in some regions. In this paper, 10 species which are known to enter or live per- we compiled records of occurrence of Urogymnus manently in freshwater habitats of Southeast Asia polylepis across the Malay Peninsula between 2012 [Fluvitrygon kittipongi, F. oxyrhynchus, F. signifer, and 2019. Doing so allowed us to analyze recent Hemitrygon laosensis, Himantura uarnak, Makararaja changes to the known distribution range of this chindwinensis, Urogymnus granulatus, U. polylepis, species. The records were compiled from the Inter- Pastinachus ater, and P. solocirostris] (Kottelat, 2013; net and local social media (mainly a few Facebook Last et al., 2016a). groups of local anglers); records were supported Urogymnus polylepis was first reported from by photographs or other evidence (e. g. location, freshwaters in 1990 from the Chao Phraya River in habitat type, morphology, and description from Thailand as Himantura chaophraya (Monkolprasit fishermen). We screened all records for authen- & Roberts, 1990). Information on the distribution ticity and correct species identification, so that of dasyatids is very limited in Southeast Asia, unconfirmed or ambiguous records were rejected. particularly for those species entering or occurring However, given that specimens were not directly in freshwater (Last et al., 2016a). For example, examined, and that the Malay Peninsula is known

* Conservation Biology Program, Faculty of Science, Sriwijaya University, Jalan Padang Selasa 524, Palembang, Sumatera Selatan 30129, Indonesia. E-mail: [email protected] ** Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Sriwijaya University, Jalan Raya Palembang-Prabumulih km 32, Indralaya, Sumatera Selatan 30662, Indonesia. E-mail: [email protected] (corresponding author)

5°15'N - N

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ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı 101°15'E 102°00'E 102°45'E 103°30'E 104°15'E 105°00'E 105°45'E 106°30'E Fig. 1. Records of Urogymnus cf. polylepis in Malay Peninsula between 2012 and 2019. Numbers correspond to those in Table 1 (see table for detailed localities and remarks). for harbouring cryptic diversity in its biogeo- (Fig. 1). The identification of this species was graphically isolated valleys and basins, we chose based on the combination of a relatively large to refer to the species as Urogymnus cf. polylepis. size and the following morphological characters: Specimens of Urogymnus cf. polylepis were snout very broad with enlarged narrow apical recorded at seven localities of Malay Peninsula lobe; disc slightly longer than wide, coloration

Table 1. Records of Urogymnus cf. polylepis between 2012 and 2019 in Malay Peninsula waters. Records are listed form north to south. Numbers refer to localities in Figure 1.

No Site Coordinates Date Remarks Source 1 Merang, Terengganu, 05°32'03" N 23 Jul 2013 ca. 300 kg Ayahchik Penarik, Malaysia 102°56'35" E facebook account (Fig. 3) 2 Tanjung Pahang, Kuantan, 03°45'48" N 9 Mar 2019 ca. 200 kg Profishganda (2019) Malaysia 103°13'12" E 3 Tanjung Pahang, Kuantan, 03°48'45" N 11 Jun 2012 41 kg Muhammad Amilin Roslan, Malaysia 103°19'32" E facebook account (Fig. 2). 4 Kuala Rompin, Pahang, 02°49'09" N 16 Aug 2017 250 kg Anonymous (2017) Malaysia 103°29'03" E 5 Kuala Rompin, Pahang, 02°49'09" N 24 Feb 2014 ca. 100 kg Nabila (2014) Malaysia 103°29'03" E 6 Kuala Lukut, Port Dikson, 02°34'46" N 19 Nov 2017 120 kg Zakaria (2017) Malaysia 101°47'18" E 7 Kampung Johor Lama, Johor, 01°34'51" N 3 Jul 2015 150 kg Anonymous (2015) Malaysia 104°00' 57" E

Iqbal et al.: Distribution of Urogymnus polylepis 3

Fig. 2. Urogymnus cf. polylepis caught by local fishermen Fig. 3. Urogymnus cf. polylepis caught by local fishermen on 11 Jun 2012 in Tanjung Pahang, Kuantan, Malaysia on 23 July 2013 in Klang, Selangor, Malay Peninsula (photograph by Muhammad Amilin Roslan). (photograph by Ayahchik Penarik). of dorsal surface of disc uniformly brownish or individual from the Riau Province (Sumatra) at greyish brown (Fig. 2), and ventral surface with 32 kg. It is suggested that young stingrays weigh a broad black marginal band around the disk between 32 to 41 kg. We herein report the occur- (Fig. 3) [Monkolprasit & Roberts, 1990; Iqbal & rence of a very young stingray weighing 41 kg Yustian, 2016; Last et al., 2016a; Windusari et al., from the Malay Peninsula which supports the 2018]. Details of sites, coordinates, dates and other findings of Vidthayanon et al. (2016). These au- remarks are provided in Figure 1 and Table 1. thors reported large numbers of pregnant females Urogymnus cf. polylepis was recorded in the occurring in brackish waters suggesting the poten- Malay Peninsula from Merang (Terengganu) tial for estuarine habitats to be used as pupping in the north to Kampung Johor (Johor) in the grounds. Continued monitoring via citizen science southern part of Peninsula (Table 1). Records methods is urgently required to help understand of individual weights ranged from 41 to 300 kg. the ecology of this species and for future conser- Unfortunately, information on total length and vation. Moreover, it is recommended that future disc width are unavailable, as in most instances research focuses on the movement behaviour of measurements were not taken by fishermen, who Urogymnus cf. polylepis between river systems. frequently remove the tails of these rays to avoid the caudal sting. Urogymnus cf. polylepis reaches at least 2 m disc width and 5 m in total length, Acknowledgements and can possibly grow larger according to reports from the Mekong and Chao Phraya Rivers of We thank our friends in various Facebook groups who individuals weighing 500-600 kg (Monkolprasit shared information on Urogymnus cf. polylepis in Malay & Roberts, 1990; Last et al., 2016a). Peninsula. We are very grateful to Ayahchik Penarik and Muhammad Amilin Roslan for sharing us to use their To date, there have been no reports of Uro- photos. We are very grateful to Jürgen Pollerspöck, Con- gymnus cf. polylepis occurring in the Malay Peninsula nor Panter, Yopi Mainanda and anonymous reviewers (Last et al., 2016b; Vidthayanon et al., 2016) and due for their comments that helped to improve this paper. to this, the known distribution range of this species is patchy throughout mainland Southeast Asia and the Greater Sunda Islands (Sumatra, Borneo Literature cited and Java). However, new records between 2012 and 2019 presented herein fill such gap within the Anonymous. 2015. [Fisherman caught giant stingrays geographic distribution of Urogymnus cf. polylepis. in Hohor]. [in Malay]. Available from https:// Iqbal & Yustian (2016) observed young sting- www.mstar.com.my/lokal/semasa/2015/07/03/ rays occurring in waters surrounding the Malay pari-gergasi/#OK5toEgmh0oX1i0K.99 (accessed Peninsula and recorded the lowest weight of one 11 February 2019).

Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, IEF-1112 4

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