Need Ray identification

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Common in the northern Gulf of Mexico. I see them pretty regularly in shallow water dives(less than 20' of water) off the Alabama Gulf Coast between May and September. The ones I've seen average around 2.5' wide. They rest ontop the sand and sometimes recessed under the sand. The tails are really short, maybe 3" long. Yellow or tan in color with some spots.

Sorry, this is the only pic I have...

Any ideas? I can't find anything to match the shape that supposed to be around here, but its a fish I see pretty commonly.

 

[Vie]

Looks like some kind of butterfly ray (family Gymnuridae). Maybe Gymnura micrura aka smooth butterfly ray...

 

[Jim Ernst]

Common in the northern Gulf of Mexico. I see them pretty regularly in shallow water dives(less than 20' of water) off the Alabama Gulf Coast between May and September. The ones I've seen average around 2.5' wide. They rest ontop the sand and sometimes recessed under the sand. The tails are really short, maybe 3" long. Yellow or tan in color with some spots.

Sorry, this is the only pic I have...

Any ideas? I can't find anything to match the shape that supposed to be around here, but its a fish I see pretty commonly.

WOW ...!!!! big frigging son of a ray, ha ha!!! nice shot, i am suprised at how large it is, that is a big ray!!!

 

[Walter]

I don't know, but I saw one diving Venice a few months ago.

 

[Rick Murchison]

Looks like some kind of butterfly ray (family Gymnuridae). Maybe Gymnura micrura aka smooth butterfly ray...

Concur. Gymnura micrura.
Rick

 

[Walter]

Thanks guys! Smooth Butterfly Ray

 

[CBulla]

neat! I learned something new today!

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Thanks for the ID I've always wondered, and it just ticked me off when I couldn't list it on my logbook last night...

WOW ...!!!! big frigging son of a ray, ha ha!!! nice shot, i am suprised at how large it is, that is a big ray!!!

That one is only 2-2.5' wide. I see 4-5' wide Southern Rays pretty often just right off the beach. They get much bigger too