PORT PHILLIP BAY


Southern Fiddler Ray 

Trygonorrhina dumerilii Castelnau, 1873

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Additional information in:
Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Order level detail.
Shark-like rays with slightly flattened disc-like bodies, relatively small pectoral fins fused to the disc and a long rather flattened tail. Contains the single family, Rhinobatidae.

Family level detail.
Small to medium rays, disc robust, oval to shovel-shaped, pectoral fins fused to the head, snout short to long snouts with a median cartilaginous support, tail long, robust and rather flattened with two well-developed dorsal fins and a prominent shark-like tail fin.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Chondrichthyes
Subclass:
Elasmobranchii
Superorder:
Batoidea
Order:
Rajiformes
Family:
Rhinobatidae
Genus:
Trygonorrhina
Species:
dumerilii

General Description

Body flattened with an oval to diamond-shaped disc; snout short, broadly triangular; a row of large thorn-like denticles along middle of disc to first dorsal fin; tail long, broad with two dorsal fins of similar size, upper tail lobe well-developed, lower lobe short. Upper surface yellowish to brown with dark-edged greyish bands radiating from eyes and on either sides of middle of back; underside pale. To 1.5 m.

Biology

This species is common in coastal waters and is often seen foraging over sand flats and seagrass beds feeding on fishes and invertebrates. Females give birth to live young after a 12 month gestation period. They are taken as bycatch in commercial trawls and sold in small quantities.

Habitat

Coastal waters including over sand flats and seagrass beds, in depths to 205 m.

Soft substrates

Seagrass meadows

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Sharks and rays Stingrays, stingarees and allies

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

1.5 m

Diet

Carnivore

Harmful

Not usually considered dangerous to humans.

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Southern Fiddler Ray, Trygonorrhina dumerilii, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 10 Dec 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6764

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