Common
Names: Masked stingaree.
Latin Name: Trygonoptera
personata
Family:
Urolophidae
Identification:
Disc vaguely rhomboid with mildly pointed snout.
Dorsum pale - yellow brown or gray with dark mask around and between eyes and second dark patch at
centre of back. Tail pale with dark tip and moderately sized dorsal fin anterior
to spine.
Size:
Maximum length at least 47cm.
Habitat: Observed on sand
near or under rocky reefs and sea grass flats to at least 70m.
Abundance
and distribution:
Western
Australia, from Bunbury north
to Shark Bay.
Behavior:
Reproduction:
Ovoviviparous.
Observations:
Photographs:
Rottnest Island, Western Australia.
Similar
species: Striped stingaree:
distinguished by darker dorsum with parallel dark stripes extending down back
and tail
Reaction
to divers: Fairly easily
approached with slow movements.
Diving
logistics: This species is
often encountered by divers at Rottnest Island.
Malabu Divers on the island can organize charters. Divers staying on the
island can attempt to locate this stingaree on shore dives - follow the sand
line at the edge of reefs for the best chance of an encounter. Perth Diving
Academy
on the mainland also run charters to
Rottnest at the weekend and weekdays during the holiday season.
Other
diving locations submitted by readers:
References
and further reading:
Sharks and Rays of Australia. Peter Last. CSIRO.
Sharks and Rays - Elasmobranch Guide of the World. Ralf M. Hennemann. IKAN.
