Butterfly ray vs Epaulard

Gymnura poecilura compared with Orcinus orca

Key Differences

• Butterfly ray is Vulnerable while Epaulard is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Butterfly ray	Epaulard
Kingdom same	Animalia (hewan)	Animalia (hewan)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Elasmobranchii	Mammalia (mamalia)
Order	Myliobatiformes (Myliobatiformes)	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)
Family	Gymnuridae	Delphinidae (Oceanic Dolphins)
Genus	Gymnura	Orcinus (Orcas)
Species	Gymnura poecilura	Orcinus orca

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Butterfly ray

VU — Vulnerable

Epaulard

DD — Data Deficient

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Unknown ?

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Butterfly ray	Epaulard
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	50 years
Average Length	—	8.0 m
Average Weight	—	5.4 t

Habitat & Geographic Range

Butterfly ray

Epaulard

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (4 countries), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela).

Butterfly ray

The Butterfly ray (Gymnura poecilura) is a species in the genus Gymnura. It is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Epaulard

The largest member of the dolphin family, orcas reach up to 9 meters and 6 tonnes and are found in every ocean from Arctic to Antarctic. Apex predators living in matrilineal pods with distinct dialects, hunting strategies, and cultural traditions that differ between populations. Some populations specialize in fish, others in marine mammals. No natural predators; orcas sit at the top of every marine food chain they inhabit.