Black Stingray, Bathytoshia lata (Garman, 1880)
Click to enlarge image
© Tim Hochgrebe
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Bathytoshia
- Species
- thetidis
- Family
- Dasyatidae
- Order
- Myliobatiformes
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- It grows to 1.8 m in disc width and 4 m total length.
Introduction
The Black Stingray is is one of the largest species of stingrays in Australia and gets its name from an even grey-brown to black colour.
Identification
The Black Stingray is one of the largest species of stingrays in Australia. It is an even grey-brown to black colour. It has a rhomboidal-shaped disc, usually one stinging spine, a granular upper surface and sharp thorns along the dorsal midline.
It is often confused with the Smooth Stingray, Dasyatis brevicaudata, which has a shorter tail, small white spots on the flaps beside the head, and no thorns on the back.
A 187mm long stinging spine from a Black Stingray found at a depth between 10m and 20m, Julian Rocks, New South Wales, March 2006.
Image: Lynda Clarke© Lynda Clarke
Distribution
The species is recorded from coastal and offshore waters of south-eastern Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In Australia it is known from northern New South Wales around the south of the country and north to the central coast of Western Australia.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
References
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 1994 Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. Pp. 513.
