Adapted necropsy technique protocol to produce a preliminary anatomic, ultrasound and histologic description of the main organs of Gymnura Altavela

Abstract

Stingrays exhibit unique physiological and anatomical characteristics compared to other elasmobranchs, which have been poorly studied so far, indicating a need for further research on these species. This study compiles the main anatomy of the Gymnura Altavela ray, a member of the Gymnuridae family and Myliobatiformes order, which is an endangered species of great importance in the Canary Islands due to the presence of stable populations. The anatomical description of this species is established in the present study through the design of a necropsy protocol, which was applied to 5 specimens. During the necropsy, ultrasound images were taken from the dorsal surface of the specimens, macroscopic images of the different organs and systems were captured, as well as their anatomical distribution, and histological images of the various organs were obtained. All of this has provided us with a better understanding of its anatomy and the characteristics that differentiate this species from other elasmobranchs and other marine species more extensively studied.