Species: 1
order: Myliobatiformes
Family: Dasyatidae (stingrays)
Species: 23
MERAUKE STINGRAY
Hemitrygon longicauda (Last & White, 2013)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
At least 31 cm DW (106 cm TL)
Unknown, no adults recorded to date
~12 cm DW
Unknown
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Tail extremely long and whip-like, more than 3 times disc width, with a long, low ventral skin fold
-
Disc almost circular to weakly rhombic
-
Eyes very small and spaced well apart
-
A median row of enlarged thorns on midline of disc and tail
-
Snout broadly triangular and relatively short
-
Tail base slightly depressed and oval in cross-section
AUSTRALIAN WHIPRAY
Himantura australis (Last, White & Naylor, 2016)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
183 cm DW (350 cm TL)
Males at ~112 cm DW
~29–30 cm DW
2–4 pups
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Tail long, whip-like and variably banded, without skin folds
-
Base of tail not depressed, circular in cross-section
-
Disc broad and weakly rhombic
-
Snout relatively short and broadly triangular
-
Denticle band on disc well developed in adults
-
Strong colour pattern of dark reticulations or small spots
LEOPARD WHIPRAY
Himantura leoparda (Manjaji-Matsumoto & Last, 2008)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
At least 140 cm DW (410 cm TL)
Males at 70–85 cm DW
~20 cm DW
Unknown
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Tail long, whip-like and variably banded, without skin folds
-
Base of tail not depressed, circular in cross-section
-
Disc broad and weakly rhombic
-
Snout relatively short and broadly triangular, with pointed tip
-
Denticle band on disc well developed in adults
-
Strong colour pattern of leopard-like ocelli in adults (large blackish spots in juveniles)
BLACKSPOTTED WHIPRAY
Maculabatis astra (Last, Manjaji-Matsumoto & Pogonoski, 2008)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
92 cm DW (180 cm TL)
Females at ~67 cm DW
Males at ~44 cm DW
15–21 cm DW
1–3 pups
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Tail long, whip-like and banded, without skin folds
-
Base of tail not depressed, circular in cross-section
-
Disc broad and rhombic
-
Snout relatively short and triangular
-
Denticle band on disc well developed in adults
-
Greyish brown with variable number of small black spots
BROWN WHIPRAY
Maculabatis toshi (Whitley, 1939)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
~82 cm DW (~170 cm TL)
Males at ~50 cm DW
~14 cm DW
Unknown
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Tail long, whip-like and banded, without skin folds
-
Base of tail not depressed, circular in cross-section
-
Disc broad and rhombic
-
Snout relatively short and broadly triangular
-
Denticle band on disc well developed in adults
-
Upper disc uniformly brown; adults sometimes with faint whitish spots and flecks
SMALLEYE STINGRAY
Megatrygon microps (Annandale, 1908)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
At least 222 cm DW (more than 300 cm TL)
Unknown
~33 cm DW
Single pup
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Disc very broad, its width >1.2 times disc length
-
Well-developed skin fold on ventral surface of tail
-
Tail base depressed and very broad, oval in cross-section
-
Tail tapering rapidly near sting and without bands
-
Eyes very small, 3 times smaller than spiracle
-
Covered in numerous minute denticles
PLAIN MASKRAY
Neotrygon annotata (Last, 1987)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
30 cm DW (at least 45 cm TL)
Females at 26 cm DW
Males at 22 cm DW
12–14 cm DW
1–3 pups
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Snout pointed, with black, mask-like bar through eyes
-
Tail not whip-like, with broad black and white bands
-
Tail base broad and depressed (oval in cross-section)
-
Skin folds present on dorsal and ventral surfaces of tail
-
Short thorns on midline of disc and tail
-
Upper disc plain, without spots or ocelli
AUSTRALIAN BLUESPOTTED MASKRAY
Neotrygon australiae (Last, White & Séret, 2016)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
47 cm DW (at least 61 cm TL)
Males at 28–34 cm DW
~14 cm DW
Unknown; probably 1 or 2 pups
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Snout broadly rounded, with a faint dark, mask-like bar through eyes
-
Tail not whip-like, with broad black and white bands
-
Tail base broad, depressed (oval in cross-section)
-
Skin folds present on dorsal and ventral surfaces of tail
-
Short thorns on midline of disc and tail
-
Upper disc with many large blue ocellate spots
SPECKLED MASKRAY
Neotrygon picta (Last & White, 2008)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
32 cm DW (at least 60 cm TL)
Both sexes at ~17–18 cm DW
~10 cm DW
1–3 pups
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Snout broadly triangular, with a dark, mask-like bar through eyes
-
Tail not whip-like, variably banded black and white near tip
-
Tail base broad and depressed (oval in cross-section)
-
Skin folds present on dorsal and ventral surfaces of tail
-
Disc mostly smooth, with thorns only in a row on mid-disc and
no thorns or denticles on tail -
Upper disc with coarse pattern of dark reticulations and speckles
PAPUAN MASKRAY
Neotrygon cf. trigonoides
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
At least 28 cm DW
Males at 26–28 cm DW
Unknown
Unknown; probably less than 3 pups
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Snout broadly triangular, with a dark, mask-like bar through eyes
-
Tail not whip-like, with broad black and white bands
-
Tail base broad and depressed (oval in cross-section)
-
Skin folds present on dorsal and ventral surfaces of tail
-
Short thorns on midline of disc and tail
-
Upper disc with few smallish blue ocellate spots
WEST PAPUAN MASKRAY
Neotrygon cf. westpapuensis
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
At least 37 cm DW
A 37 cm DW male was mature
Unknown
Unknown
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Snout broadly rounded, with a dark, mask-like bar through eyes
-
Tail not whip-like, with broad black and white bands
-
Tail base broad and depressed (oval in cross-section)
-
Skin folds present on dorsal and ventral surfaces of tail
-
Short thorns on midline of disc and tail
-
Upper disc with moderately large blue ocellate spots, but spots absent from central band (area from spiracles through to pectoral-fin insertions)
BROAD COWTAIL RAY
Pastinachus ater (Macleay, 1883)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
~200 cm DW (more than 300 cm TL)
Males at 96–98 cm TL
18–28 cm DW
2 pups
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Disc profile quadrangular, with a short, rounded snout
-
Ventral skin fold terminating well before tail tip, blackish and very deep (maximum depth >3.5 times height of tail above)
-
Tail relatively broad based
-
Sting situated well back on tail
-
No thorn row along middle of tail
PINK WHIPRAY
Pateobatis fai (Jordan & Seale, 1906)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
At least 170 cm DW (more than 308 cm TL)
Males at ~112 cm DW
~30 cm DW
Unknown
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Disc profile quadrangular, with a short, broad snout
-
No skin folds on tail
-
No obvious band of denticles on central disc
-
Tail long, whip-like and uniformly dark beyond sting (not banded)
-
Midline of tail before sting without enlarged thorny denticles
-
Dorsal surface uniformly yellowish or pinkish grey
HORTLE’S WHIPRAY
Pateobatis hortlei (Last, Manjaji-Matsumoto & Kailola, 2006)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
47 cm DW (at least 61 cm TL)
Males at 28–34 cm DW
~14 cm DW
Unknown; probably 1 or 2 pups
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Snout broadly rounded, with a faint dark, mask-like bar through eyes
-
Tail not whip-like, with broad black and white bands
-
Tail base broad, depressed (oval in cross-section)
-
Skin folds present on dorsal and ventral surfaces of tail
-
Short thorns on midline of disc and tail
-
Upper disc with many large blue ocellate spots
JENKINS’ WHIPRAY
Pateobatis jenkinsii (Annandale, 1909)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
~150 cm DW (more than 300 cm TL)
Males at ~70 cm DW
~23 cm DW
Unknown
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Disc profile quadrangular, with a short, broad snout
-
No skin folds on tail
-
Band of denticles on central disc
-
Tail moderately long, whip-like and uniformly dark (not banded)
-
Midline of central disc and tail with a row of upright thorns
-
Dorsal surface uniformly yellowish brown
PELAGIC STINGRAY
Pteroplatytrygon violacea (Bonaparte, 1832)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
~80 cm DW (usually less than 60 cm DW)
Females at 39–50 cm DW
Males at 35–38 cm DW
~14–20 cm DW
2–9 pups
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Anterior profile of disc strongly convex and obtuse
-
Outer edge of disc angular
-
Row of small thorns along midline of disc
-
Tail whip-like and broad-based (oval in cross-section)
-
Ventral skin fold on tail very low, terminating well before tail tip
-
Dorsal and ventral surfaces dark brownish to black (often with
a purplish tinge)
OCEANIA FANTAIL RAY
Taeniura lessoni (Last, White & Naylor, 2016)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
At least 22 cm DW (~56 cm TL)
Males at ~21 cm DW (immature at 18.5 cm DW)
Unknown
Unknown
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Profile of disc oval
-
Dorsal surface almost smooth to granular (denticles very small)
-
Ventral skin fold on tail relatively deep, extending to tail tip
-
1 or 2 stings present, located beyond midlength of tail
-
Tail short, without blue stripes
-
Posterior tail and skin fold pale
-
Upper surface with numerous bright blue spots
BLUESPOTTED FANTAIL RAY
Taeniura lymma (Forsskål, 1775)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
~35 cm DW (~75 cm TL)
Males at ~20 cm DW
13–14 cm DW
Unknown
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Profile of disc oval
-
Dorsal surface almost smooth to granular (denticles very small)
-
Ventral skin fold on tail relatively deep, extending to tail tip
-
Stings present (usually 2), located beyond midlength of tail
-
Tail short, with blue stripe on each side before sting
-
Posterior tail and skin fold bluish
-
Upper surface with numerous bright blue spots
BLOTCHED FANTAIL RAY
Taeniurops meyeni (Müller & Henle, 1841)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
~180 cm DW (~330 cm TL)
Males at 100–110 cm DW
30–35 cm DW
Up to 7 pups
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Profile of disc circular
-
Dorsal surface almost smooth (denticles very small)
-
Ventral skin fold on tail deep, extending to tail tip
-
Large sting present (usually 1)
-
Tail uniformly black posterior to sting
-
Upper surface grey with dark blotches and mottling (often faint)
MUMBURARR WHIPRAY
Urogymnus acanthobothrium (Last, White & Kyne, 2016)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
At least 161 cm DW
Males at ~110 cm DW
Largest embryo ~28 cm DW
Unknown
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Profile of disc oval
-
Very small eyes in front of large spiracles
-
Denticle band well developed
-
No enlarged thorns on body
-
Tail long, whip-like and narrow-based
-
Upper disc brownish to yellowish grey, often with fine greyish
speckles
PORCUPINE WHIPRAY
Urogymnus asperrimus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
147 cm DW
Females at ~100 cm DW
Males at ~90 cm DW
Unknown
Unknown
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Profile of disc almost circular, very thick
-
Dorsal surface very rough, covered with long, sharp thorns
-
Base of tail narrow and rounded in cross-section
-
Tail short, without skin folds or stinging spines
-
Posterior half of tail blackish
-
Upper surface uniformly brownish, yellowish or greyish
FRESHWATER WHIPRAY
Urogymnus dalyensis (Last & Manjaji-Matsumoto, 2008)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
At least 124 cm DW (more than 270 cm TL)
Males at ~90 cm DW
Unknown
Unknown
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Disc profile almost circular with long, sharply pointed tip
-
No skin folds on tail
-
Tail long, whip-like, narrow-based and blackish (not banded)
-
Central disc with 2–4 heart-shaped thorns
-
Midline of tail before sting lacking enlarged thorns
-
White below, with very broad dark margin
MANGROVE WHIPRAY
Urogymnus granulatus (Macleay, 1883)
IUCN Status
BIOLOGY
Maximum size:
Maturity size:
Birth size:
Litter size:
Reproductive mode:
​
At least 141 cm DW (more than 350 cm TL)
Males at 55–65 cm DW
~14 cm DW
Unknown
Viviparous, with histotrophy
KEY FEATURES
-
Disc almost circular in profile
-
Snout broadly triangular and short
-
No skin folds on tail
-
Tail moderately long, whip-like and whitish behind sting
-
Sting situated anteriorly on tail
-
Upper surface greyish with small white flecks (often with a layer of dark mucus when alive)
