The Smooth Stingray - Dolphin Watch TV

Описание: The Smooth Stingray or Smoothray is a species of stingray we commonly see in Port Phillip Bay, and is the largest of the Australian stingrays. The Smoothray can grow up to just over 4 metres in length, weigh up to 350 kg, and are found with a noticeably shorter tail than most other stingrays.

People often associate stingrays with danger, but in-fact they are very peaceful creatures. We generally see up to two smooth rays at Chinaman’s Hat during the seal swim on our tours, and snorkelling with these creatures just adds to the magic of the experience.

The Smooth Stingray is very similar to the Black Stingray, however small rows of white dots found on the upper side of the smooth ray’s head as well as a lacking of thorny bristles on its spine and tail, is what separates the two.

Electro-magnetic sensors allows the species to detect heart beats and flickering movements of their prey, helpful for feeding. Smooth Stingrays are a bottom-dwelling species, generally feeding on bony fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other invertebrates which are found on the ocean floor.

Unfortunately, there are multiple different threats posed to this species, one of the biggest being commercial trawling. The stingrays are often accidentally caught in fishing net’s and lines, resulting in severe injury or death. They are also commonly found with amputated tails, as anglers will cut them off to protect themselves before throwing them back into the water, unfortunately this causes the Stingray to lose its barb, being it’s only mechanism of defence.

Created by Mitch Pope
Narrated by Natalie Johnson