Dasyatis kuhlii (Bluespotted stingray)

(Müller & Henle, 1841)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Chondrichthyes > Elasmobranchii > Batoidei >  Myliobatoidei > Dasyatidae

Dasyatis kuhlii (Bluespotted stingray) [Illustration by Ann Hecht ©]

Identification

A small colourful angular stingray with small, round, bright blue eyespots on a reddish-brown background, tail only as long as body and with conspicuous black and white rings. Snout very short and broadly angular, disk angular, a short upper caudal finfold and a longer lower one that ends well behind tail tip, disk without thorns, and usually one sting on tail. Underside white.

Size

To 70 cm TL and 35 cm DW.

Range

East coast, Durban to northern kwaZulu; Indian Ocean and western Pacific.

Habitat

Shallow sandy areas, often near coral reefs, normally close inshore in tropical waters.

Biology

Little-known but apparently common, possibly migratory off Natal. Eats crabs and shrimp.

Human Impact

None.

Text by Leonard J.V. Compagno, David A. Ebert and Malcolm J. Smale