Short-tail stingray
One of the world's largest stingrays, found in Southern Hemisphere temperate waters.
The short-tail stingray (Bathytoshia brevicaudata), also called the smooth stingray, is a widespread member of the Dasyatidae family. It ranks among the world’s largest stingrays, reaching over 2.1 meters across and 350 kilograms. Its body is heavy, its pectoral fin disc is diamond-shaped and plain-colored, and even adults lack dermal denticles (scales). White pores are located on each side of the head. The body may be dark grey or black, sometimes with rows of white spots along the wings. The tail is usually shorter than the disc and thick at the base, armed with large tubercles and a midline row of large thorns ahead of the stinging spine, which has dorsal and ventral fin folds behind it.
This species lives off southern Africa, typically offshore at depths of 180–480 meters, and off southern Australia and New Zealand, from the intertidal zone down to 156 meters. It is mostly bottom-dwelling, inhabiting estuaries, reefs, and other habitats, but also often swims into open water. Its diet includes invertebrates and bony fishes, both burrowing and midwater species. It tends to stay within a limited area year-round, preferring deeper water in winter, and does not undertake long migrations. Large aggregations form seasonally at certain spots, such as around New Zealand’s Poor Knight Islands in summer, where both mating and birthing have been observed. Reproduction is aplacental viviparous: embryos are nourished by histotroph (“uterine milk”) from the mother. Litter size is typically 6–10, though up to 15 pups have been recorded.
The short-tail stingray is not aggressive but can deliver a lethal wound with its long, venomous sting. It is often caught incidentally by commercial and recreational fisheries throughout its range, usually surviving release. Because its population does not appear threatened by human activity, the IUCN lists it as least concern.
Frederick Hutton, curator of the Otago Museum, first described the species in 1875 from a 1.2-meter-wide female caught off Dunedin, New Zealand, naming it *Trygon brevicaudata* (from Latin *brevis* for “short” and *cauda* for “tail”). It was long placed in *Dasyatis*, but work by Last et al. (2016) resurrected *Bathytoshia* for it, the broad stingray, and the roughtail stingray.
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Bathytoshia
- Species
- brevicaudata
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The short-tail stingray was originally described by Frederick Hutton, curator of the Otago Museum, from a female specimen 1.2 m across caught off Dunedin, New Zealand, in an 1875 issue of Annals and Magazine of Natural History. He named it Trygon brevicaudata, from Latin brevis ('short') and cauda ('tail'). Although long assigned to Dasyatis, recent work by Last et al. (2016) resurrected Bathytoshia for it and the broad stingray, as well as the roughtail stingray. It is closely related to the similar-looking but smaller pitted stingray (Dasyatis matsubarai) of the northwestern Pacific; a 2016 molecular phylogenetic review added Dasyatis matsubarai and Dasyatis multispinosa as populations of this species.
The species occurs off southern Africa, typically offshore at 180–480 m depth, and off southern Australia and New Zealand from the intertidal zone to 156 m. It is mostly bottom-dwelling, inhabiting estuaries, bays, sandy flats, rocky reefs, and the outer continental shelf, but also frequently swims into open water. Its diet consists of invertebrates and bony fishes, including burrowing and midwater species. Large aggregations form seasonally, such as in summer at the Poor Knights Islands off New Zealand, where both birthing and mating have been documented. It is aplacental viviparous, with embryos sustained by histotroph.
Reader's Guide
The short-tail stingray is significant as one of the largest stingray species, reaching at least 2.1 m across and 350 kg, with reliable observers off New Zealand reporting individuals almost 3 m across. It is not aggressive but can inflict a lethal wound with its long, venomous sting. It is often caught incidentally by commercial and recreational fisheries throughout its range, usually surviving to be released. Because its population does not appear threatened by human activity, the IUCN lists it under least concern. The species is known to form large seasonal aggregations, notably at the Poor Knights Islands off New Zealand each summer, where both mating and birthing have been observed. A tracking study of two New Zealand rays suggests they shift to deeper waters during winter but do not undertake long migrations. Its range and numbers off southeastern Tasmania have grown in recent decades, possibly due to climate change. The short-tail stingray has few predators due to its size, including the copper shark, smooth hammerhead, great white shark, and killer whale. When threatened, it raises its tail warningly over its back like a scorpion.
Did You Know?
- The short-tail stingray can grow to at least 2.1 m across and 350 kg, with reports of individuals almost 3 m across off New Zealand.
- It is capable of inflicting a lethal wound with its long, venomous sting, but is not aggressive.
- The species was originally described by Frederick Hutton in 1875 from a female specimen caught off Dunedin, New Zealand.
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