Keywords
copulation
reproduction
France
Spain
Mediterranean
How to Cite
Abstract
The pelagic stingray, Pteroplatytrygon violacea, is a batoid belonging to the family Dasyatidae, whose reproduction remains poorly understood. This paper describes two rare precopulatory behaviour events involving two adult pairs observed in French and Spanish waters in August 2018. It identifies distinct behavioural stages: grasping, pairing, body rotation, and clasper flexion. The persistent inverted posture of the female suggests a potential male-induced tonic immobilization, a behaviour not previously documented in pelagic rays. These observations provide the first well-documented account of precopulatory behaviour in the pelagic stingray and suggest possible reproductive adaptations in this highly migratory elasmobranch species.
References
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