Australian bluespotted maskray (Neotrygon australiae)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Elasmobranchii · Order: Myliobatiformes · Family: Dasyatidae · Genus: Neotrygon.

Accepted name: Neotrygon australiae · Authority: Last, White & Serét, 2016 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 1382142.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1382142 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Neotrygon australiae. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 41 cm · Depth range: 23–91 m · Habitat zone: demersal · Body shape: other · Vulnerability index: 40.1 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: A demersal fish found inshore to mid-continental ad insular shelves (Ref. 114953). Found over and adjacent to rocky and coral reefs from shallow water to at least 91 m depth (Ref. 116741).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 68488) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Neotrygon-australiae.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

1,312 georeferenced occurrence records for Neotrygon australiae are published through GBIF from 7 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 269 distinct locations from a sample of 1,312 records, omitting 18 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Australia (1,210); Indonesia (80); Fiji (8); Timor-Leste (8); Papua New Guinea (3).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 9301049) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=9301049&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1382142 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Neotrygon australiae Last, White & Séret, 2016 as Near Threatened (code NT). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 104166970) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/104166970/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 9301049) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/9301049/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

This species can be distinguished from its closest congener (Neotrygon kuhlii) through several characteristics, namely much broader disc, narrowly angular pectoral apices, rounded or weakly angular fleshy snout, entirely dark ventral tail fold, very long tail with black-white bars on the rear, reddish brown to greenish body color, and covered with large blue spots and small peppery dark spots. The maximum size for the female specimens is 45.2 cm disc width (DW).

This species distribution range encompasses Northern Territory, Western Australia, and Queensland in Australia;Lesser Sunda Islands and southern Papua in Indonesia; Timor-Leste; and Papua New Guinea. It inhabits the inshore habitats and ranges from the surface to a depth of around 90 m. It is also caught, either as target or bycatch, by local fisheries and will likely be used for human consumption in the regions of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, although it is not known to be retained in Australia.

Source: Wikipedia: Neotrygon australiae — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neotrygon_australiae (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

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