Common
Names: Striped stingaree, Bight stingaree.
Latin Name: Trygonoptera
ovalis
Family:
Urolophidae
Identification:
Disc oval without pointed snout. Disc slightly longer than wide.
Dorsum mid brown with two, sometimes indistinct, dark patches near midline of
back, thinning and extending along tail. Smaller dark patches below eyes. Small
dorsal fin in front of tail spine but no tail folds.
Size:
Maximum
length approx 61cm.
Males mature at 35cm.
Habitat: To 45m.
Near or under rocky reefs and on sand / sea grass flats.
Abundance
and distribution:
South western Australia, from The Abrollos Islands to Eucla.
Behavior:
Reproduction:
Ovoviviparous.
Observations:
Photographs:
Albany, Western Australia.
Similar
species:
Reaction
to divers: Fairly easily
approached with slow movements.
Diving
logistics: This species is
encountered occasionally by divers throughout its range.
Any area with rocky reefs (especially
adjacent to sand) would be a good place to start. I encountered this ray while
diving with Dive Albany.
Other
diving locations submitted by readers:
References
and further reading:
Sharks and Rays of Australia. Peter Last. CSIRO.
Sharks and Rays - Elasmobranch Guide of the World. Ralf M. Hennemann. IKAN.
