Further observations on shoals of the Javanese cownose ray Rhinoptera javanica Muller & Henle from the Gulf of Mannar with a note on the teeth structure in the species

Occurrence of shoals of the Javanese cownose ray, Rhinoptera javanica Miiller & Henle in the Gulf of Mannar in the vicinity of Mandapam was reported once earlier by the author (James, 1962). Since then, no reports of such instances were made nor the author came across such heavy landings of this species till the 1st of February 1969 when about 130 rays of the same species were landed by a shore seine operated at about 3 a.m. (high tide period) at approximately 6 metres depth off Vedalai in the Gulf of Mannar. The author had opportunity to examine 113 of these specimens, the results of which along with a note on the structure of teeth in this species are given in this paper