Butterfly ray (Gymnura altavela), 2m under water, 30m from the shore/beach
Date July 2007
Author h.weerman
Location Lanzarote
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Butterfly_ray.jpg

The spiny butterfly ray or giant butterfly ray (Gymnura altavela) is a species of butterfly ray, family Gymnuridae, native to the shallow coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean. A large ray that can measure over 2 m across, it may be distinguished from the sympatric smooth butterfly ray (Gymnura micrura) by the spine at the base of its tail and by a small tentacular structure on the margin of each spiracle.
Order: Myliobatiformes
Family: Gymnuridae
Genus: Gymnura
Species: Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms:
Pteroplatea binotata Lunel, 1879
Pteroplatea canariensis Valenciennes, 1843
Pteroplatea vaillantii Rochebrune, 1880
Pteroplatea valenciennii Duméril, 1865
Raja altavela Linnaeus, 1758
Raja maclura Lesueur, 1817