greenback stingaree

10/25/2018

Greenback Stingaree, Urolophus viridis. Source: Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO.

Also known as the Green-backed Stingaree, Urolophus viridis calls Australian waters home... and only Australian waters. Yup, it's endemic! Preferring the continental shelf and upper slope of southeastern Australia, they are largely unknown.

Due to numerous fisheries in its range, they are taken as bycatch in trawl fisheries, especially off eastern and southern Australia. While holding no commercial value and usually thrown away, it is unknown how likely they are to survive, especially when brought up from the depths as they have been record from 20 to 200 m (mainly 80 to 180 m) deep. That, coupled with high abortion rates in urolophids when caught and handled, is of concern especially given their low fecundity. Little else is known about this olive-green/brown colored animal. The IUCN has assessed these animals as Vulnerable (VU) due to their documented population declines and high fishing pressure.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THIS ANIMAL?

GLOSSARY

Bathydemersal: Living and feeding on the bottom below 200 m.
Benthic zone: The bottom of an ocean or lake.
Continental shelf: Extends from a continent underwater, resulting in a shallow-water area.
Continental slope: The steep slope from a continental shelf to the ocean floor; usually around 20 km (12.4 miles) wide and made up of mud and silt substrate. It is an ideal area for deep sea fishing.
Dorsal fin: Fin located on the back.
Dorsal side: The top of an animal.
IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature.