Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) > Myliobatiformes (Stingrays) > Dasyatidae (Stingrays)
Etymology: Taeniura: Latin, taenia = stripe + Greek, oura = tail (Ref. 45335). More on author: Müller, Henle.

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; reef-associated; depth range ? - 500 m (Ref. 37816), usually 20 - 60 m (Ref. 30573). Tropical; 41°N - 36°S, 25°E - 77°W

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ?, range 100 - 110 cm
Max length : 330 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30573); max. published weight: 150.0 kg (Ref. 11228)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

A large stingray with a circular disc, no thorns, a black and white mottled upper surface, and a deep and prominent ventral skin fold that extends to the tail tip (Ref. 6871).

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions | Faunafri

Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to southern Japan, Micronesia, tropical Australia and Lord Howe Island. Eastern Pacific: known only from oceanic islands (Cocos and the Galapagos) but because of sheer number, individuals may colonize the Central America mainland (Ref. 28023). More widely known as Taeniura melanospila Bleeker 1853, a junior synonym based on the description of a juvenile specimen.

Occurs in a wide range of habitats, from shallow lagoons to outer reef slopes (Ref. 1602). Feeds on bottom fish, bivalves, crabs and shrimp (Ref. 5578). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Smallest free-swimming specimen recorded was 33 cm WD. Caught commonly by demersal tangle net fisheries, and occasionally by longline and bottom trawl fisheries. Utilized for its meat and cartilage (Ref.58048). Found singly or in aggregates and usually with jacks and cobia swimming near them (Ref. 12951). Not normally aggressive, but it has been responsible for at least one human fatality. Sought by surf and ski boat anglers in southern Africa, but usually released unharmed (Ref. 5578). Longevity record for a specimen in an aquarium is 81 days (Ref. 12951). May reach disc width in excess of 3 m (Ref. 28023).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : McEachran, John | Collaborators

Last, P.R. and J.D. Stevens, 1994. Sharks and rays of Australia. CSIRO, Australia. 513 p.

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)

Vulnerable (VU) (A2ad+3d+4ad)

Threat to humans

Venomous (Ref. 6871)

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

FAO(Publication : search) | FisheriesWiki | Sea Around Us

More information

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Estimates of some properties based on empirical models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805): PD₅₀ = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01312 (-0.22193 - 0.24817), b=3.10075 (2.97426 - 3.22723), based on LWR estimates for this family-BS (Ref. 93245).

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278): 4.2 ±0.69 se; Based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 69278): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=7).

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Very high vulnerability (77 of 100) .

Price category (Ref. 80766): Low.

Taeniura meyeni Müller & Henle, 1841