Cowtail Stingray (Pastinachus sephen)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Pastinachus sephen
- Common name
- Cowtail Stingray
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Dasyatidae
- Genus
- Pastinachus
- Size
- 50–170 cm
- Depth
- 1–60 m
- IUCN status
- Data deficient (DD)
- Danger level
- Caution
- Habitats
- sandy-bottom, muddy-bottom, seagrass-meadow
- Behaviours
- benthic, solitary
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Mediterranean
Description
Large flattened ray (50-170 cm) grey-brown with marbled pattern. Distinctive venomous tail. Shallow benthic habitat (1-60 m) Indo-Pacific coastal. Forages on bottom for small prey. Conservation: data deficient. Diving: effective camouflage, observe carefully on sand.
Photo of Cowtail Stingray
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Cowtail Stingray?
- Cowtail Stingray (Pastinachus sephen) reaches 50–170 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Cowtail Stingray?
- Cowtail Stingray is found between 1–60 m deep.
- Is the Cowtail Stingray dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Caution.
- What is the conservation status of the Cowtail Stingray?
- IUCN status: Data deficient (DD).
- Where can you find the Cowtail Stingray?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Mediterranean.
Other species in the family Dasyatidae
- Taeniura grabata - Round stingray
- Hypanus americanus - Southern stingray
- Himantura uarnak - Honeycomb Stingray
- Dasyatis pastinaca - Common Stingray
- Neotrygon kuhlii - Blue-Spotted Stingray
- Taeniurops meyeni - Round ribbontail ray
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 217419)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2419714)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia