Blue-spotted Stingray, Dasyatis kuhlii (Müller & Henle, 1841)

ANIMAL SPECIES:Blue-spotted Stingray, Dasyatis kuhlii (Müller & Henle, 1841)

The Blue-spotted Stingray has a grey to brown disc with light blue and black spots. It has a dusky band crossing the eyes and the interorbital region. This species has a long pale-tipped tail, the posterior third of which is crossed by dark bands. It grows to a disc width of 40 cm and a total length of 70 cm.

Identification

The Blue-spotted Stingray has a grey to brown disc with light blue and black spots. It has a dusky band crossing the eyes and the interorbital region.

The species has a long pale-tipped tail, the posterior third of which is crossed by dark bands.

Size range

It grows to a disc width of 40 cm and a total length of 70 cm.

Distribution

It occurs throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific.

In Australia the species is known from the central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north and south to the New South Wales north coast.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Blue-spotted Stingray specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The Blue-spotted Stingray lives in coastal and estuarine waters. It is often observed buried in sand or mud with only the eyes exposed.

Classification

Species:: kuhlii
Genus:: Dasyatis
Family:: Dasyatidae
Order:: Myliobatiformes
Class:: Chondrichthyes
Subphylum:: Vertebrata
Phylum:: Chordata
Kingdom:: Animalia

What does this mean?

References

Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 1994 Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. Pp. 513.
Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 28 April 2011

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