Common Name
Common Stingaree
Scientific Name
Trygonoptera testacea
Distribution
Found along the East Coast of Australia from Southern Queensland to Victoria.
Habitat
Inshore estuaries, sand flats, seagrass meadows and rocky reefs.
Appearance
Smallish, rounded shape with tail length 86-90% of disc width. Individuals have a small dorsal fin in front of one or two serrated spines which are used for defence. The caudal fin on the end of the tail is shaped like a leaf. Range in colour from grey to brownish on the top and white on the underside.
Size
Maximum length is 52cm and maximum disc width is 32cm.
Diet
Primarily feeds on polychaete worms (up to 75% of stomach contents by volume) and crustaceans (e.g. shrimp, amphipods and crabs). Also known to feed upon small fish, lancelets and molluscs.
Life cycle
Females are ovoviviparous, meaning that their offspring develop inside of eggs within their body for approximately 1 year until they are ready to hatch. Newborn pups are born with a disc width of approximately 8cm. When males reach 22cm and females reach 26cm in disc width, they are sexually mature and capable of reproduction.
Interesting facts
- Common stingarees and all stingarees can be distinguished from other stingrays by the presence of a leaf-shaped caudal fin at the end of their tails.
- Common stingarees are the most abundant ray species found in inshore waters off the east coast of Australia.
- Common stingarees and other stingrays have the potential to sting beachgoers with their barbs. As people walk through shallow waters, there is a chance that they may accidentally step on a stingaree. causing it to use its barb in defence. To avoid being stung, beachgoers should shuffle their feet as they move about in the shallow water. In the event of a sting from a stingaree or stingray, it is recommended that the injury site be submerged in water as hot as the patient can handle and that the patient seeks professional medical advice from a doctor or the hospital.