Longtail stingray

9/12/2016

The longtail stingray (now Bathytoshia lata, previously Dasyatis thetidis) goes by many multiple names, including the thorntail stingray and black stingray. They are seen swimming in southern African waters, Australia, and New Zealand to depths as deep as 440 m (1,440 ft), and like lagoons, estuaries, and reefs. They can get to be pretty big: some measure up to 1.8 m (5.9 ft) across and weigh more than 200 kg (440 lb), making it one of the largest stingrays worldwide. A pretty neat title to have, if we say so ourselves.

It's diamond-shape is black/dark brown on the dorsal side, a creamy underbelly, and a long tail (hence the common name). The dorsal side, and along the tail, bear sharp thorns for protection. And while they have a venomous spine, they are not aggressive towards humans!

The longtail stingray prefers benthic invertebrates and bony fishes to eat. And in the summer, which is fast approaching for the Southern Hemisphere, they like to gather in groups (be on the look out in your harbours). Like other stingrays, it is viviparous with yolk-sac. #Finfact: Embryos get fed histotroph ("uterine milk") produced by momma stingray.

They are caught by commercial and recreational fishers, but little else is known about their population so the IUCN has listed this species as Data Deficient (DD).

ever heard of this stingray?

glossary

Benthic zone: The bottom of an ocean or lake.
Commercial fishery: The activity of catching fish and other seafood for profit.
Dorsal side: The top of an animal.
Histotroph: Uterine milk.
Invertebrates: Animals with no backbone (i.e. crustaceans, jellyfish, corals, sea anemones).
IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Viviparous with yolk-sac: Also known as aplacental viviparous and previously known as ovoviviparous/ovoviviparity; it is the production of eggs that are fertilised and hatch inside the female shark but the embryos lack a placental connection to the oviduct or uterus and so do not feed off the mother.