Maculabatis toshi (Whitley, 1939)
Black-spotted whipray
Maculabatis toshi
photo by FAO

Family:  Dasyatidae (Stingrays), subfamily: Urogymninae
Max. size:  86 cm WD (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 10 - 140 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Australia and Papua New Guinea. This species has been misidentified by most ichthyologists as a color form of Himantura uarnak (Ref. 6871). Also Ref. 114953.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Demersal on soft bottoms on the continental shelf at depths of 10-140m (Ref.58048). Juveniles (20-22 cm WD) are free swimming. Feeds on prawns, small fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 9840). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Common by-catch of bottom trawl and beach seine fisheries in the Arafura Sea. Utilized for its meat, skin (high value) and cartilage (Ref.58048).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 May 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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