Shark Treasures
195
The skin of the Cowtail ray (Dasyatis sephen) is used for making drums and tambourines in Sumatra, and for making sword hilts in Japan, where it is called the Pearl ray because of the pearl-like dermal denticles in the middle of its back. When used for decorative purposes, the denticles are highly polished and left in the hide. Courtesy, Sydney and Melbourne Publishing Co. from The Fishes of Australia by G. P. Whitley, 1940

Shadows in the sea: the sharks, skates and rays [by] Harold W. McCormick and Tom Allen, with William E. Young.
Date 1963
Source https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10741217
Author Harold W McCormick
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shadows_in_the_sea_BHL10741217.jpg

The cowtail stingray (Pastinachus sephen) is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae, widespread in the Indo-Pacific region and occasionally entering freshwater habitats. Other common names include banana-tail ray, drab stingray, fantail ray, feathertail stingray, and frill tailed sting ray. The most distinctive characteristic of the cowtail stingray is the large, flag-like ventral fold on its tail, which is especially prominent when the ray is swimming.

Order: Myliobatiformes
Family: Dasyatidae
Genus: Pastinachus
Species: Pastinachus sephen (Forsskål, 1775)
Synonyms
- Dasybatus gruveli Chabanaud, 1923
- Raja sancur Hamilton, 1822
- Raja sephen Forsskål, 1775
- Taeniura atra Macleay, 1883
- Trigon forskalii Rüppell, 1829