General Description

Disc smooth, somewhat rhomboidal in shape with a broadly triangular fleshy snout; tail long, flattened near base, with prominent skin folds along the sides, a deepish caudal fin and a long slender spine; dorsal fin absent. Pale grey above with a variable number of small, distinctive pale, regularly-arranged spots, each with a darker border. Underside pale. To 57 cm.

Biology

These stingarees feed mainly on crustaceans and polychaete worms. Females give birth to up to 6 pups. They are taken in commercial trawls, although seldom marketed. The serrated spine is venomous and can inflict a very painful wound.

Habitat

Sandy bottoms in bays, harbours and along the coast, to a depth of 150 m.

Soft substrates

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

57 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Harmful

Venomous barb on the tail can cause a painful injury.

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Conservation Status

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