Round fantail stingray
A poorly known stingray of the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean.
The round fantail stingray (Taeniurops grabatus), or round stingray, is a little-understood ray from the family Dasyatidae. It lives in coastal areas with sandy, muddy, or rocky bottoms in the eastern Atlantic and the southern Mediterranean Sea. This dark-colored ray usually grows to about 1 meter (3.3 feet) across. It is recognized by its almost circular pectoral fin disk, a short tail, and skin that is mostly smooth. It feeds on fish and crustaceans on the seafloor and reproduces through aplacental viviparity. The IUCN lists it as Near Threatened.
French naturalist Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire first described it in 1817, naming it *Trygon grabatus* from the Latin for "bed." His description appeared in the first volume of *Poissons du Nil, de la mer Rouge et de la Méditerranée*. Later scientists moved it to the genus *Taeniura*. No type specimens are known.
This ray lives in tropical to subtropical waters of the eastern Atlantic from Mauritania to Angola, and around the Canary Islands, Madeira, and Cape Verde. In the Mediterranean, it is seen occasionally, especially in the Gulf of Gabes and Levantine waters, but it is not a Lessepsian migrant—reports from the Red Sea appear mistaken. It is found at depths of 10–300 meters (33–984 feet), favoring sandy, muddy, or rocky coastal areas.
Its pectoral fin disk is nearly circular and slightly wider than long. The tail is no longer than the disk and has one or more stinging spines on top. Male spines average 50 mm (2.0 inches) long, female spines 66 mm (2.6 inches), each with a central groove and 29–45 side serrations. Replacement spines grow in front of the main one. A deep fin fold runs under the tail from the spine almost to the tip. The skin is mostly smooth except for small dermal denticles along the middle of the back from the spiracles to the tail spine, plus three thorns on the "shoulders." Coloration is dark gray, brown, or olive above with darker mottling, and off-white below. It typically reaches 1 meter (3.3 feet) across and 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) long, but has been reported up to 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) and 150 kg (330 lb).
Little is known about its natural history. It hunts bottom-dwelling crustaceans and fish. During the day it often lies partially buried in sediment, under ledges, or in open spaces between reefs.
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Taeniurops
- Species
- grabatus
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
French naturalist Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire originally described the round fantail stingray in 1817 as Trygon grabatus, from the Latin grabatus meaning 'bed'. His account was published in the first volume of the folio Poissons du Nil, de la mer Rouge et de la Méditerranée. Subsequent authors moved this species to the genus Taeniura. No type specimens are known.
The round fantail stingray has a nearly circular pectoral fin disk slightly wider than long. The tail measures no longer than the disk length and bears one or more stinging spines on the upper surface. The spines average 50 mm long in males and 66 mm in females, and have a central groove and 29–45 lateral serrations. Replacement spines grow in front of the primary spine. There is a deep fin fold running beneath the tail from the level of the spine almost to the tip. The skin is mostly smooth, save for small dermal denticles found along the middle of the back from the spiracles to the tail spine, as well as three thorns on the 'shoulders'. The coloration is dark gray to brown to olive above, with various darker mottling, and off-white below.
Little is known of the natural history of the round fantail stingray. A predator of bottom-dwelling crustaceans and fishes, during the day this species can often be found partially buried in sediment, under ledges, or lying in the open spaces between reefs. Known parasites include monogeneans and a tapeworm. It has been observed being attended to by the cleaner shrimp Hippolysmata grabhami. Like other stingrays, this species is aplacental viviparous.
Reader's Guide
The round fantail stingray is a poorly known species, with limited data on its utilization or population impact. Potential threats come from commercial fisheries using bottom trawls and trammel nets, but no specific data are available. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed its conservation status as Near Threatened. It has been observed sheltering near artificial reefs in the Canary Islands. The species cannot be considered a Lessepsian migrant, as reports of its presence in the Red Sea appear erroneous. Its significance lies in its status as a relatively unstudied stingray in the eastern Atlantic and southern Mediterranean, highlighting the need for further research into its biology and the impacts of fishing on its populations.
Did You Know?
- The round fantail stingray was originally described as Trygon grabatus by French naturalist Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in 1817.
- This species can weigh as much as 150 kg (330 lb) and reach a length of 2.5 m (8.2 ft).
More in Reef Sharks and Rays, Part 3 1-24
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