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Black Stingray
Dasyatis thetidis Ogilby, 1899
Above and below: A Black Stingray at a depth of 18 m, Julian Rocks, New South Wales. Photo © T. Hochgrebe. View larger image.
Above and below: A 187 mm long stinging spine from a Black Stingray found at a depth between 10 m and 20 m, Julian Rocks, New South Wales, March 2006. Photo © L. Clarke. View larger image.
The Black Stingray is an even grey-brown to black colour. It has a rhomboidal-shaped disc, usually one stinging spine, a granular upper surface and sharp thorns along the dorsal midline.
This is one of the largest species of stingrays in Australia. It grows to 1.8 m in disc width and 4 m total length.
The Black Stingray is recorded from coastal and offshore waters of south-eastern Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In Australia it is known from northern New South Wales around the south of the country and north to the central coast of Western Australia.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
It is often confused with the Smooth Stingray Dasyatis brevicaudata, which has a shorter tail, small white spots on the flaps beside the head, and no thorns on the back.
Further reading
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- 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.
