Description

Also known as Black-blotched Stingray, Black-spotted Ray, Black-spotted Stingray, Blotched Fantail Ray, Bull Ray Barb, Fantail Ray, Fantail Stingray, Giant Reef Ray, Giant Ribbon-ray Fish, Marbled Ray, Marbled Ribbontail Ray, Marbled Stingray, Ribbon-ray Fish, Speckled Stingray.

Found singly, or in small fevers, either buried in the sand with just the eyes showing, resting on the substrate, or swimming with cobia's and jacks in tow, over shallow lagoons and outer reef slopes.
They feed on bivalves, crustaceans and fish.
Can look like the "Martians" have landed.
Length - 330cm
Depth - 1-500m
Widespread Indo-West Pacific

The Marbled Stingray has a roughly circular-shaped disc (body), no thorns, has a mottled black and white pattern on the upper surface and white underneath. The depressed tail is slightly longer than the disk.
This Ray is not generally aggressive but is known to be responsible for at least one human fatality, the infamous Steve Irwin - Crocodile Hunter!

Rays are bottom feeders, they settle themselves down over their prey, trapping them against the substrate with their disc, then flexing their disc flaps and manoeuvring the victims into their mouths.
Most rays live in the sea, but some can be found in estuaries, often hard to see as they can be buried in the sand, occasionally they can be seen leaping out of the water.
As a form of defence rays have electric organs while others have venomous spines.
Usually rays will swim out of harms way if approached, however they can give a nasty sting which could prove fatal.
Never swim over the top of large rays, they think you are a predator and are likely to whip their tails in defense! (as happened to Steve Irwin) Ref: https://www.fishbase.in/summary/6482