Coastal stingaree
This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2010) |
Coastal stingaree | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
Superorder: | Batoidea |
Order: | Myliobatiformes |
Family: | Urolophidae |
Genus: | Urolophus |
Species: | U. orarius
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Binomial name | |
Urolophus orarius Last & M. F. Gomon, 1987
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The coastal stingaree (Urolophus orarius) is an uncommon species of round ray in the stingaree family, Urolophidae, that is endemic to the eastern Great Australian Bight.[2]
Appearance and anatomy
As with more common rays, the body of this species is flat and disc-shaped, with
Distribution and ecology
The coastal stingaree is restricted to the Eastern Indian Ocean in the waters of southern Australia. There, the species is known to reside from the Great Australian Bight Marine Park to the waters of western Victoria. The coastal stingaree is a marine, bottom-dweller found in shallow coastal waters. It inhabits depths of 20–50 metres (66–164 ft).
Very little is known about the biology of the coastal stingaree due to its sparse and elusive population. they appear to behave similarly to other stingaree species. The coastal stingaree often feeds on bottom-dwelling fishes, shrimp, sea worms and other small organisms. There is also evidence that the coastal stingaree is also able to eat hard-shelled molluscs and crustaceans.
Conservation
The coastal stingaree is not explicitly targeted by fisheries or used commercially. However, large numbers of the species are still caught as bycatch by these fisheries. The stingarees have low birth rates and slow reproductive turnover. Because of this and their restricted habitat and range, the coastal stingaree is particularly susceptible to the dangers of over-fishing.
The coastal stingaree occurs within the
As of 2010[update], no conservation measures focus on the coastal stingaree.
References
- . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Urolophus orarius" in FishBase. April 2006 version.