Round whip ray (Maculabatis pastinacoides)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
The round whipray (Maculabatis pastinacoides) is a species of stingray within the family Dasyatidae. Populations of round whipray are primarily located in the Malay Archipelago, more specifically, parts of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. There is also the possibility this species of stingray exists in areas of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well. In 2004, the round whipray was assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and determined to be a vulnerable species. The most recent assessment in 2020 has determined this species to now be endangered. While there is no data accumulated to identify the population size of round whiprays specifically, data collected regarding similar whipray species from fisheries in the Malay Archipelago area, indicate a decline in the population of round whiprays.
- Scientific name
- Maculabatis pastinacoides
- Authority
- (Bleeker, 1852)
- Family
- Dasyatidae
- Order
- Myliobatiformes
- Maximum length
- 80 cm
- Habitat zone
- demersal
- Iucn red list
- Endangered
- Gbif occurrence records
- 30
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Elasmobranchii · Order: Myliobatiformes · Family: Dasyatidae · Genus: Maculabatis.
Accepted name: Maculabatis pastinacoides · Authority: (Bleeker, 1852) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 1042868.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Himantura pastinacoides (Bleeker, 1852); Trygon pastinacoides Bleeker, 1852.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1042868 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Maculabatis pastinacoides. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 80 cm · Habitat zone: demersal · Body shape: other · Vulnerability index: 90 of 100 · Fishery importance: bycatch · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.
FishBase notes: Demersal, inshore on continental shelves, frequently in coastal embayments near large river mouths (Ref.58048). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Regionally common by-catch of bottom trawl and beach seine fisheries off southern Borneo. Utilized for its meat, skin and cartilage (Ref.58048).
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 57398) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Maculabatis-pastinacoides.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
30 georeferenced occurrence records for Maculabatis pastinacoides are published through GBIF from 5 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 9 distinct locations from a sample of 30 records, omitting 8 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: Bangladesh (13); Malaysia (11); Indonesia (3); India (2); Thailand (1).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 9515808) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=9515808&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1042868 (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 Maculabatis pastinacoides (Bleeker, 1852) as Endangered (code EN). 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 161540) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/161540/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 9515808) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/9515808/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
The round whipray prefers to live close to the floor in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. They can be found on surface waters all the way down to a maximum depth of 60 m.
Round whiprays give birth to live young, with the size at birth of their offspring ranging from 15-16 cm in disc width. Male round whiprays reach maturity once they are 43-46 cm in disc width, whereas females are not considered mature until they are roughly 58 cm in disc width. An adult round whipray can reportedly reach a maximum size of 86 cm in disc width. Round whiprays reproduce by pairing with embrace. This species has the potential of reproducing only one pup per litter, with each generation of round whipray living for about 20 years.
Round whiprays are bycatch in large- and small-scale fisheries. While there are no conservation efforts towards the preservation and or restoration of round whiprays, there are measures in place to limit large fisheries from over harvesting. This in turn could help round whiprays that are captured as a byproduct of fishing operations in the area have a chance to recover in their populations.
Source: Wikipedia: Round whipray — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_whipray (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced