Australian whipray

📖 Overview

Depth distribution is not well documented, but this species is primarily in shallow water from near the shore to at least 45 m depth . Enters estuaries and brackish water. Most serious injuries to humans come from stingray groups . The largest specimen (140 cm WD) is a pregnant female with 2 embryos (30 cm WD) (data not year published); the smallest confirmed adult male is 112 cm WD ; born at ca. 29 cm WD. Produces litters up to 4 pups .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: the disc is weakly rhomboidal; preorbital snout is moderately short, its length 19-22% DW and rather broad, angle 117-127°, with a distinct apical lobe; lateral apices are narrowly rounded; the orbits moderately large, usually strongly protruding (particularly in young); 1-2, mostly heart-shaped suprascapular denticles which are not preceded before and after by a row of smaller primary denticles; secondary denticle band is developed before birth; dorsal surface of juveniles (smaller than 370 mm DW) are dark spotted or with spots and weak reticulations, subadults and adults (exceeding 390 mm DW) are more strongly reticulated; dorsal tail of juveniles has 3 rows of spots before caudal sting, faint dark saddles beyond sting (no alternating black and white bands on tail); tail uniformly dark ventrally; 146-152 pectoral-fin radials; 123 vertebral centra (excluding synarcual), 24 including synarcual 124 : other (see remarks); Cross section: flattened.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Australian whipray is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 45 m . Tropical; 5°S - 29°S, 111°E - 155°E Central Pacific: confined to the Australasian Plate, from off Papua New Guinea and northern Australia, from Shark Bay (off Western Australia) to Brisbane (off Queensland) (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

⚠️ Venom Profile

References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute