Kategorie: News
A New Species with a Zorro Mask
To this day, no one knows exactly how many species of rays actually live in the waters around the Fiji Islands. According to the literature, there are said to be around 19 species - an incredible diversity. Yet nearly 70 percent of the Fijian stingrays documented to date are considered to be at risk of extinction. This is a clear signal of how urgently research and conservation are needed here.
This is precisely where a project by the German Marine Conservation Foundation comes in, led by marine scientist Kerstin Glaus (ETH Zurich).
The project’s greatest success to date: In June 2025, Glaus and her colleagues described in the *Journal of Fish Biology* a completely new species of ray found only in Fiji - the Fiji masked ray (Neotrygon romeoi n. sp.). This brings the number of known mask ray species in the genus Neotrygon to 17. Its German name already hints at its most striking feature: a pattern reminiscent of Zorro’s mask.
The Fiji masked ray stands out due to two distinct spots behind the eyes, as well as a very prominent row of spines along its back. Incidentally, the species is named after Romeo Glaus, the late father of the lead author.
With a diameter of up to 40 centimeters, the Fiji masked ray is the most commonly caught ray species in the archipelago. Little is known about its reproduction: Like other masked rays, it is presumed to be aplacental viviparous, with the embryos receiving histotrophic nourishment via uterine secretions. The female rays are thought to give birth to only one to a maximum of four pups - an extremely low reproductive rate. Another potential problem: in a follow-up study published in 2026 under Glaus’s supervision, researchers also found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of more than 71 percent of the animals examined.
“For me, there are no inconspicuous species. The Fiji mask ray is probably the most common ray in Fiji. It’s not exactly small, lives near the coast, and yet wasn’t described as a separate species until 2025. There’s still so much to discover if we look more closely. And every newly described species provides another piece of the puzzle for understanding the fascinating evolution and biogeography of masked rays,” says Kerstin Glaus.
To describe species diversity as comprehensively as possible, the project combines several non-invasive methods. eDNA analyses detect genetic traces that animals leave behind in their environment without a single specimen needing to be captured - this has already made it possible to detect guitarfish DNA near Nasoata and Savusavu, as well as in Votua.
Baited underwater camera systems (BRUVs) also document the behavior and abundance of rays and sharks, while morphological examinations of catches at local fish markets provide additional data. The goal is to shed light on so-called “dark diversity” - species that are missing or presumed missing because they have not yet been detected using traditional methods.
From pygmy rays to the three-meter-long Guitarfish
The range of species among Fiji’s rays encompasses a wide variety of forms and lifestyles. The Oceania fantail ray, which was only scientifically described in 2016, measures just around 22 centimeters and can even be individually identified and cataloged based on its unique markings. The pink whipray (Pateobatis fai), on the other hand, reaches a diameter of just under 1.50 meters and is known for mysterious aggregations of up to 25 individuals on the seafloor, the purpose of which remains unclear. At the other end of the size spectrum is the white-spotted Guitarfish (Shovelnose ray), which can grow up to three meters in length; it is a critically endangered species among the so-called “rhino rays,” and researchers also suspect it may have endemic subspecies. The heavily armored porcupine ray, on the other hand, does not have a spine, but instead has skin studded with spines that largely protects it even from spearfishers.
A Fresh Start with a Focus on Drawaqa and the Yasawa Islands
The project has been ongoing since December 2021 and, according to the foundation, will be relaunched next year with a focus on the island of Drawaqa and the southern Yasawa Islands - regions that are already among the key research areas. The Drawaqa Marine Conservation Trust is responsible for implementing the project.
The data collected is also intended to have practical applications: newly described, endemic species such as the Fijian masked ray can be included in the Fiji Endangered and Protected Species Act, which would regulate the trade and protection of these animals by law.
In the long term, the research will also help identify so-called “Important Shark and Ray Areas” and establish local protected areas - a contribution to the internationally agreed-upon 30x30 goal of effectively protecting at least 30 percent of marine areas by 2030.
More Information:
Deutsche Stiftung Meeresschutz
Drawaqa Marine Conservation Trust