Occurrence of two vulnerable butterfly rays Gymnura micrura (Bloch Schneider, 1801) and Gymnura poecilura (Shaw, 1804) (Myliobatiformes: Gymnuridae) in the northern Arabian Sea, Pakistan, Indian Ocean region

Batoid fishes, an ionic group commonly known as rays are universally vulnerable and some of them critically endangered owing to fisheries related activities. This study validates presence of two vulnerable butterfly rays, Gymnura micrura and Gymnura poecilura captured in the northern Arabian Sea coast of Pakistan, Indian Ocean for the first time. The IUCN listed both of the species as vulnerable whereas FishBase recorded Atlantic and Pacific Ocean as their native habitats. These rare species of the family Gymnuridae are now added in the ichthyofaunal diversity of Pakistan. The detailed taxonomic description and an image of each species are provided.