General Description
Disc flattened, circular to oval; tail short, thick and tapering, with a single prominent serrated spine, a leaf shaped caudal fin, and small dorsal fin. Dark brown to blackish above with many pale irregular rings and spots, disc margin and tail grey or black, underside white. Usually 40 cm long head to tail tip (up to 70 cm).
Biology
Widespread and common in coastal bays and estuaries along the southern coast, usually amongst seagrass near rocky reefs. Stingarees must handled with great care as the serrated spine is venomous and can inflict a very painful wound. When wading in sandy and seagrass areas it is advisable to shuffle along to avoid accidentally stepping on one of these rays.
Distribution
Southern Australia.
Habitat
Algal rocky reefs and grass beds of coastal waters and bays.
More Information
-
Animal Type
-
Animal SubType
-
Brief Id
Disc circular to oval, tail with a dorsal fin, a short caudal fin and a venomous spine; dark brownish-black with pale rings and spots.
-
Habitats
-
Diet
Carnivore
-
Diet Categories
Invertebrates
-
Hazards
Venomous spines.
-
Endemicity
-
Commercial
Yes
-
Conservation Statuses
CITES: Not listed, FFG Threatened List: Not listed, DSE Advisory List: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Least Concern
-
Depths
Shallow (1-30 m)
-
Water Column Locations
On or near seafloor
-
Taxon Name
-
Scientific Author
Scott, 1854
-
Common Name
Spotted Stingaree
-
Kingdom
-
Phylum
-
Subphylum
-
Superclass
-
Class
-
Subclass
-
Superorder
-
Order
-
Family
-
Genus
-
Species Name
gigas