Blotched fantail ray

Taxobox
name = Blotched fantail ray
status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1
status_ref = IUCN2006|assessors=Kyne, P.M. & White, W.T.|year=2005|id=60162|title=Taeniura meyeni|downloaded=7 September 2006]
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Chondrichthyes
ordo = Rajiformes
familia = Dasyatidae
genus = "Taeniura"
species = "T. meyeni"
binomial = "Taeniura meyeni"
binomial_authority = (Müller & Henle, 1841)
synonyms = "Taeniura melanospila"The blotched fantail ray ("Taeniura meyeni") is a member of Dasyatidae, the stingray family. It is found from the Red Sea and east Africa to southern Japan, Micronesia, tropical Australia (from central West Australia around the north coast and south to northern New South Wales and Lord Howe Island), [http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/tmeyeni.htm Blotched Fantail Ray] , Australian Museum Online. Retrieved on 7 September 2006.] Cocos Islands and the Galapagos Islands. [http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=6482&genusname=Taeniura&speciesname=meyeni Taeniura meyeni] , Fishbase. Retrieved on 7 September 2006.]

It is a large stingray with a circular-shaped body, and with varying reports of its width up to 1.8 m and over 3 m. The tail is slightly longer than the body and the total length from snout to the tip of the tail may be 3.3 m. It weighs up to 150 kg. It has a black and white mottled upper surface.

It occurs in a range of habitats, from shallow lagoons to coral reef waters usually on sand substrates. It feeds on bottom-dwelling fish, bivalves, crabs and shrimps.

It is not normally aggressive but has been responsible for at least one human fatality.

References