This study provides the first detailed information on the reproductive biology of the smooth butterfly ray Gymnura micrura. A total of 905 individuals were sampled, 377 of which were used for the reproductive study. Juveniles accounted for 75% of the sample, but all life cycle stages were present in the study area. The disc width at which 50% were mature (W(D50))was estimated at 269 and 405 mm for males and females, respectively. The W(D50V) (based on the onset of vitellogenesis) was estimated at 359 mm. Uterine fecundity (mean ±s.d. = 3·8 ± 1·3; range: 1-6) was positively correlated with female size. A 3564% gain in mean wet mass was observed from egg to full-term embryo in utero. Size at birth ranged from 135 to 175 mm W(D) (19·5 to 55·0 g), with a mean of 165·1 mm W(D) (43·3 g). The embryo sex ratio was not significantly different from 1:1. The ovaries of pregnant females were undergoing vitellogenesis during gestation, with females ready to ovulate soon after parturition. Gymnura micrura may have an asynchronous reproductive cycle, with females reproducing continuously throughout the year.

Summary The purpose of the present study was to analyze the diet of the smooth butterfly ray Gymnura micrura using qualitative and quantitative approaches to describe the feeding spectrum as well as ecological aspects related to feeding and niche width. The rays were obtained through monthly sampling as by‐catch from bottom trawl fisheries in northeastern Brazil from August 2007 to July 2008. A total of 286 stomachs were sampled, of which 176 contained food items. G. micrura is a predator in the region that feeds intermittently on large whole prey items, followed by a long period of digestion with simply little or no feeding activity. A low diversity of food items was found in the G. micrura diet, with an absolute predominance of teleosts, especially the roughneck grunt Pomadasys corvinaeformis. It is suggested that the species has a narrow feeding niche and a high degree of specialization. This presumed high degree of feeding specialization is discussed and the findings are compared in light of similar studies for closely related species, allowing to propose the family as primarily constituting piscivorous rays.

We collected 729 Hypanus guttatus from the northern coast of the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), of which 196 were used to estimate age and growth. Ninety‐five were male (12.7 to 57.0 cm disc width; WD) and 101 were female (13.0 to 88.5 cm WD); females were significantly larger than males. Cross sections of vertebrae showed band‐pairs ranging from 0 to > 14 in females and from 0 to 9 in males. New‐borns presented an opaque edge at birth in vertebrae without a birthmark. The average percentage of error (APE; %E) for the entire sample provided evidence that ages were repeatable. The mean monthly marginal increment (IM) indicates annual band‐pair formation from August to November. The annual cycle model for one band‐pair deposition provided the best fit to data based on the AIC, with peaks between August and October, similar to that found in the IM analysis, suggesting an annual formation pattern. A multi‐model approach that included four models based on the observed mean WD at age indicated a modified von Bertalanffy growth model as the best for describing the species growth: W0 (WD at birth) = 14.6 cm for both sexes; females W∞ = 98.61 cm (95% CI = 87.34–114.61 cm); k = 0.112 year−1 (CI = 0.086–0.148 year−1); males W∞ = 60.22 cm (CI = 55.66–65.35 cm); k = 0.219 year−1 (CI = 0.185–0.276 year−1). The age‐at‐maturity in males and females is 5 years and 7 years, respectively. The age composition shows that most (84%) specimens were aged 0 to 2 years. The information provided here is essential for analytical assessments of H. guttatus, which is subject to significant fishing pressure mainly on new‐borns and juveniles.

The coast of Caiçara do Norte-RN is a known elasmobranchs nursery area, where the stingray Dasyatis guttata females and males of different sizes are captured. Since the species biological informations are scarce, the present study aimed to investigate the reproductive biology, the diet and the age and growth patterns of D. guttata in this area. Juvenile stingrays, including newborns, were more frequent in the catches. Dasyatis guttata reproduces throughout the year, but showed higher reproductive activity in the dry season. The LD 50 estimated for females was 51.3 cm and for males was 43.5 cm. Regarding the diet, results characterized D. guttata as a generalist predator, that feeds upon the prey more available in the environment, and indicated that there are no significant differences between the diet composition of males and females, and between seasons of the year. However, an ontogenetic change was found, with the young feeding preferentially on crustaceans and the adults on bivalve molluscs. The species presented also a slow growth rate for both genders and it is suggested that the deposition of periodic growth marks occur once a year. The growth curve was fitted and the estimated growth parameters were: L ∞ = 100.76 cm; k = 0.07; t 0 =-2.18 for males; and L ∞ = 137.57 cm; k = 0.06; t 0 =-1.86 for females. Males and females achieve the maturity at about five years old.

This study investigated the diet of longnose stingray Hypanus guttatus in the tropical waters of north-eastern Brazil. Samples were obtained from monthly sampling of artisanal fisheries from August 2007 to July 2008. A total of 258 specimens were examined, 127 females and 131 males, and stomach contents analysis suggested H. guttatus to be a generalist and opportunistic predator feeding on the most available prey in the environment. There was no significant difference in the diet composition of males and females, or between seasons. However, an ontogenetic dietary shift was observed with larger individuals having an increased proportion of molluscs in the diet, whilst smaller individuals predated primarily on small crustaceans.