Coastal stingaree
Encyclopedia
The coastal stingaree is an uncommon species
of round ray
in the stingaree family
, Urolophidae, that is endemic to the waters of Southern Australia
.
approximately half way down their tail. In addition to this defensive, venom
ous sting, most stingarees have obscure coloration, which acts as camouflage. The coastal stingaree is greyish-brown with dark mottling on its upper surface and paler underneath which allow it to blend with the sandy or rocky bottom.
in the waters of southern Australia. There, the species is known to reside from the Great Australian Bight Marine Park to the waters of western Victoria. The coastal stingaree is a marine, bottom-dweller found in shallow coastal waters. It inhabits depths of 20–50 m (65.6–164 ft).
Very little is known about the biology of the coastal stingaree due to its sparse and elusive population. they appear to behave similarly to other stingaree species. The coastal stingaree often feeds on bottom-dwelling fishes, shrimp
, sea worm
s and other small organisms. There is also evidence that the coastal stingaree is also able to eat hard-shelled molluscs
and crustacean
s.
by these fisheries. The stingarees have low birth rates and slow reproductive turnover. Because of this and their restricted habitat and range, the coastal stingaree is particularly susceptible to the dangers of over-fishing.
The coastal stingaree occurs within in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park
. Thus, this part of their territory exists within the Benthic Protection Zone (BPZ) which gives the species a degree of protection. The park's mission is not only to maintain biodiversity
in the area, but also to provide ecologically sustainable
use of marine resources. However, fisheries and recreational fishing are still permitted to operate in parts of the park and BPZ. Exploration and drilling for petroleum
has continued since 2003. These activities may yet threaten the coastal stingaree population.
, no conservation measures focus on the coastal stingaree.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of round ray
Round ray
Urolophidae is a family of rays in the order Myliobatiformes, commonly known as stingarees or round stingrays; this family formerly included the genera Urobatis and Urotrygon of the Americas, which are presently recognized as forming their own family Urotrygonidae. Stingarees are found in the...
in the stingaree family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
, Urolophidae, that is endemic to the waters of Southern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Appearance and anatomy
As with more common rays, the body of this species is flat and disc-shaped, with pectoral fins that broadly expand and are in a fixed relationship with the head and trunk. Characteristic of the stingaree family, the coastal stingaree's body is circular and disc-like. As with other rays, it has a long, particularly slender tail that is distinctly separate from the body. Most species of stingaree have one or more venomous spinesSpine (zoology)
A spine is a hard, thorny or needle-like structure which occurs on various animals. Animals such as porcupines and sea urchins grow spines as a self-defense mechanism. Spines are often formed of keratin...
approximately half way down their tail. In addition to this defensive, venom
Venom
Venom is the general term referring to any variety of toxins used by certain types of animals that inject it into their victims by the means of a bite or a sting...
ous sting, most stingarees have obscure coloration, which acts as camouflage. The coastal stingaree is greyish-brown with dark mottling on its upper surface and paler underneath which allow it to blend with the sandy or rocky bottom.
Distribution and ecology
The coastal stingaree is restricted to the Eastern Indian OceanIndian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
in the waters of southern Australia. There, the species is known to reside from the Great Australian Bight Marine Park to the waters of western Victoria. The coastal stingaree is a marine, bottom-dweller found in shallow coastal waters. It inhabits depths of 20–50 m (65.6–164 ft).
Very little is known about the biology of the coastal stingaree due to its sparse and elusive population. they appear to behave similarly to other stingaree species. The coastal stingaree often feeds on bottom-dwelling fishes, shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
, sea worm
Sea worm
Sea worm is a general term that may refer to a number of phyla of animals, or may refer specifically to:*Acanthocephala, parasitic worm*Annelida, segmented worms*Chaetognatha, arrow worms*Cycliophora, lobster worms*Entoprocta*Echiura, spoon worms...
s and other small organisms. There is also evidence that the coastal stingaree is also able to eat hard-shelled molluscs
Mollusca
The Mollusca , common name molluscs or mollusksSpelled mollusks in the USA, see reasons given in Rosenberg's ; for the spelling mollusc see the reasons given by , is a large phylum of invertebrate animals. There are around 85,000 recognized extant species of molluscs. Mollusca is the largest...
and crustacean
Crustacean
Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum, which includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. The 50,000 described species range in size from Stygotantulus stocki at , to the Japanese spider crab with a leg span...
s.
Conservation
The coastal stingaree is not explicitly targeted by fisheries or used commercially. However, large numbers of the species are still caught as bycatchBycatch
The term “bycatch” is usually used for fish caught unintentionally in a fishery while intending to catch other fish. It may however also indicate untargeted catch in other forms of animal harvesting or collecting...
by these fisheries. The stingarees have low birth rates and slow reproductive turnover. Because of this and their restricted habitat and range, the coastal stingaree is particularly susceptible to the dangers of over-fishing.
The coastal stingaree occurs within in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park
Great Australian Bight Marine Park
Great Australian Bight is a marine national park in South Australia and in Western Australia, 918 km west of Adelaide.The area extends from West of Ceduna to the Western Australian border an additional area of a wide strip that extends to off-shore, forming a large T shape.The total area of the...
. Thus, this part of their territory exists within the Benthic Protection Zone (BPZ) which gives the species a degree of protection. The park's mission is not only to maintain biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
in the area, but also to provide ecologically sustainable
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
use of marine resources. However, fisheries and recreational fishing are still permitted to operate in parts of the park and BPZ. Exploration and drilling for petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
has continued since 2003. These activities may yet threaten the coastal stingaree population.
, no conservation measures focus on the coastal stingaree.