WHATSTHATFISH
Sharks & rays

Pink Whipray

Pateobatis fai

Also known as: Cowtail Ray, Cowtail Whipray, Rose Whipray

VenomousKeep your distance
Adult
@fishx6 · Navy Pier, Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, WA, Australia · June 20131 / 3
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Overview

Found singly or in large fevers, sometimes buried in the sand with just the eyes showing, or resting on the substrate, over soft bottoms of the inner continental shelf, close to coral reefs.

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)

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How to identify

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Country only · 3
LIVES IN

Found singly or in large fevers, sometimes buried in the sand with just the eyes showing, or resting on the substrate, over soft bottoms of the inner continental shelf, close to coral reefs.

04

Adult photos 3

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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. genusPateobatis
    7. speciesPateobatis fai (Jordan & Seale, 1906)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Stingrays (Dasyatidae)