Taeniura meyen (Round ribbontail ray)

Müller & Henle, 1841

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

Taeniura meyen (Round ribbontail ray) [Illustration by Ann Hecht ©]

Identification

A huge dark circular stingray with dark grey to black blotches and spots, a short stout tapering tail about as long as body length, and a broad lower caudal finfold that reaches tail tip. Snout broadly rounded, outer corners of disk broadly rounded, disk without thorns but covered by small star-shaped denticles in adults, and one or two medium-sized stings on tail. Colour blue-grey above with grey to black spots and blotches, white below.

Size

To 3 m TL and 1.6 m DW.

Range

East coast, Natal and Mozambique; elsewhere Indian Ocean and western Pacific.

Habitat

Inshore in the surf zone and off river mouths down to the upper continental slope and at least 439 m depth.

Biology

Common but habits little known. Eats bivalves, crabs, shrimp, and bottom fishes.

Human Impact

Sought by surf and skiboat anglers, but usually released unharmed. Caught by offshore trawlers.

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