Notes on batoid fishes of the Socotra Archipelago (north-western Indian Ocean), with four new records

A recent study has documented four new records of batoid fishes—sharkrays, wedgefishes, and guitarfishes—in the coastal waters of Socotra Archipelago. Among these, Rhynchobatus australiae marks the first verified record for the Arabian region. The research, based on collected specimens and underwater observations, confirms the presence of seven batoid species, all commercially significant in local fisheries. Additionally, it verifies four stingray species through photographic evidence. This study contributes to the understanding of batoid diversity in the north-western Indian Ocean, highlighting the ecological importance of Socotra's marine biodiversity.

BOGORODSKY, S. V., ZAJONZ, U., SAEED, F. N., & WEIGMANN, S. (2021). Notes on batoid fishes of the Socotra Archipelago (north-western Indian Ocean), with four new records. Zootaxa, 4951(3). https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4951.3.5