Coral Sea maskray

📖 Overview

Coral Sea maskray (Neotrygon trigonoides) is a ray-finned fish of the family Dasyatidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in reef-associated environments. With a trophic level of 3.4, it is a low-level carnivore, feeding on invertebrates and small organisms. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

This species is described by the following: a small stingray with a smooth rhombic disc (usually thorns on nape absent); short tail with both dorsal and ventral folds; upper disc with small blue-edged white ocelli and black speckles; distinct mask-like marking around eyes; sides of tail mottled and tip banded; disc is broad, its width ca,1.3 times its length, trunk fleshy; pectoral-fin apex abruptly angular; snout is short, bluntly angular, the tip not extended, the anterior margins almost straight to weakly undulate; eyes large, protruding, length of orbit and spiracle, ca. 1.4 in snout length, the interorbital space subequal to orbit length; mouth is very small, with 2 broad central oral papillae, the labial furrows and folds prominent, the jaws asymmetric; nasal curtain skirt-shaped, rather narrow, the margin concave, strongly fringed; nostrils narrow; skin often lacking denticles and thorns; tail firm, broad based and depressed slightly anteriorly, tapering gradually to caudal sting, it is slender, almost rounded below sting, flattened posteriorly (not long and whip-like), the length slightly longer than DW, with usually 1 caudal sting, its ventral fold low, elongate, base ca.1.5 times distance from snout to 5th gill slit, the dorsal fold short based, lower than ventral fold; pelvic fins are large, the apices rather pointed .Cross section: flattened.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Coral Sea maskray is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated. Subtropical Southwest Pacific: off eastern Australia and New Caledonia.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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