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Short-tailed stingrays (Dasyatis brevicaudata) at Northern Arch, NZ
Image by Dr. F. Anthoni - License: Public Domain. (view image details)
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SMOOTH STINGRAY FACTS |
Description
The Smooth Stingray is the largest stingray in Australia. of all Australian stingrays and can weigh up to 350 kg. The body is dark above with pale underside and long whip like tail. There are irregular rows of small white spots on the back near the head and no thorn-like denticles along the dorsal midline of the disc. It is similar in appearance to the Black Stingray, but the Black Stingray has thorn shaped denticles along the midline of the back and does not have white spots. The tail of the Smooth Stingray is relatively short - about the same length as the disc.
Size
length to 4.3m, disc width to 2m.
Habitat
bottom-dwelling fish found in coastal waters and estuaries in shallow water and down to about 170m. Found on sandy bottoms, in bays, harbors, and near rocky reefs
Food
fish, bivalves, squid, crustaceans
Breeding
Ovoviviparous
Range
The Smooth Stingray is found in temperate waters of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In Australia it is found along the bottom half of the continent from southern Queensland, around to the central coast of Western Australia.
Notes
This stingray is dangerous. The venomous spine half way along the tail is capable of inflicting severe or potentially fatal wound. It is sometimes seen raising its tail above its back like a scorpion.
Classification
| Class: | Chondrichthyes | | Order: | Rajiformes | | Family: | Dasyatidae | | Genus: | Dasyatis | | Species: | brevicaudata | | Common Name: | Smooth Stingray |
Relatives in same Genus
Blue-spotted Stingray (D. kuhlii)
Black Stingray (D. thetidis)
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