Identification of a Potential Nursery Ground of the Spiny Butterfly Ray, Gymnura altavela, in the Northeastern Mediterranean Sea, TürkiyeTuran, Cemal (Avtor) Soldo, Alen (Avtor) Doğdu, Servet A. (Avtor) Turan, Funda (Avtor) Ergenler, Ayşegül (Avtor) Uyan, Ali (Avtor) Gymnura altavelanursery sitebreeding areaSamandağ coastsnortheastern MediterraneanThis study reports the first identified potential nursery area for the critically endangered Gymnura altavela off the coast of Samandağ in the northeastern Mediterranean. Two divers conducted seasonal surveys across a total area of 750 m² at three depth intervals (5–10 m, 11–20 m, 21–30 m) using the standard underwater visual census method. Additionally, bycatch data from nearby commercial trawling operations were collected. The highest individual density recorded was 0.051 n/m² in autumn, the lowest 0.02 n/m² in summer. The findings suggest that the area functions as a nursery habitat for the G. altavela population.20252026-06-26 09:44:22Delo ni kategorizirano30450UDK: 5DOI: 10.19233/ASHN.2025.23slImetniki avtorskih pravic na prispevkih so avtorji. CC BY 4.0