Description

Also known as Cow Stingray, Giant Black Ray, Giant Stingray, New Zealand Short-tail Stingaree, New Zealand Short-tailed Stingaree, Pitted Stingray, Schreiners Ray, Short-tail Stingray, Short-tailed Black Ray, Short-tailed Stingaree, Smooth Short-tailed Stingray, Smooth Stingray.

Found singly, or in small fevers, sometimes buried in the sand, with just the eyes showing, or resting on the substrate, over sandy bottoms, of bays and harbours, close to rocky reefs.
They feed on bivalves, crustaceans, fish, and squid.
Can look like the "Martians" have landed.
Length - 430cm
Depth - 0-470m
Widespread Indo-West Pacific

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.de/summary/6381