Big Finner vs Butterfly ray

Balaenoptera physalus compared with Gymnura micrura

Key Differences

• Big Finner is Endangered while Butterfly ray is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Big Finner	Butterfly ray
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Elasmobranchii
Order	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)	Myliobatiformes (Myliobatiformes)
Family	Balaenopteridae (Rorquals)	Gymnuridae
Genus	Balaenoptera (Rorquals)	Gymnura
Species	Balaenoptera physalus	Gymnura micrura

Evolutionary Relationship

Big Finner and Butterfly ray share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Big Finner

EN — Endangered

Butterfly ray

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Big Finner	Butterfly ray
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Big Finner

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, flooded grasslands and savannas, and montane grasslands and shrublands, among 4 distinct biome types within the Neotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Butterfly ray

Habitat

Native to South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in Venezuela. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Big Finner

Big Finner (Balaenoptera physalus) is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List. At high risk of extinction in the wild, with significant population decline and ongoing threats to survival.

Butterfly ray

The Butterfly ray (Gymnura micrura) is a species in the genus Gymnura. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Native to South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇻🇪 Venezuela