Short-tail Stingray

Bathytoshia brevicaudata

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

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

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2021

VenomousKeep your distance

Add a photo

Short-tail Stingray adult, photographed at Sydney, Australia — @MBP349 · Sydney, Australia · July 20201 / 1

Overview

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.

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)

How to identify

COLOURS

grey

Behaviour: bottom dwelling buries in sand loose groups solitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

Habitat & where to find it

Range · Indo-West Pacific
Country only · 1

LIVES IN

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.

RANGE