WHATSTHATFISH
Sharks & rays

Mangrove Whipray

Urogymnus granulatus

Also known as: Coachwhip Ray, Macleay's Coachwhip Ray, Mangrove Ray, Mangrove Stingray, Whitetail Stingray, Whitetail Whipray

ENEndangeredIUCN Red List, 2024
Handle with careLook, don't touch
Adult
@fishx6 · Gangehi, Maldives · March 20081 / 11
01

Overview

Found singly over rubble and sand bottoms of lagoons, coastal and deep outer reefs.
They feed on benthic crustaceans, and small fish.
Disc - 100cm

Whiprays generally have much longer tails.

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)

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
spots
Fins & Tail
white tail

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Circumtropical
  • Exact location · 2
  • Country only · 9
LIVES IN

Found singly over rubble and sand bottoms of lagoons, coastal and deep outer reefs.

04

Adult photos 11

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classElasmobranchii
    4. orderMyliobatiformes
    5. familyDasyatidae
    6. genusUrogymnus
    7. speciesUrogymnus granulatus (Macleay, 1883)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Stingrays (Dasyatidae)