what is this fishy
- Thread starter adam5016
- Start date
aquadementia
Sealiner
Nice fish Adam. Its definately not a short-tail stingray (black ray), its the wrong shape and doesnt have white spots along the sides which is the defining characteristic of a 'pylie'
Note the shape of the 'nose', angle of the wings, colour, thickness of the tail and the white spots
As to what yours is, I have no idea. I dont think its a thortail stingray cos of the angle of the front of the wings. Yours looks like a blue ray with a full body tattoo lol
Note the shape of the 'nose', angle of the wings, colour, thickness of the tail and the white spots
As to what yours is, I have no idea. I dont think its a thortail stingray cos of the angle of the front of the wings. Yours looks like a blue ray with a full body tattoo lol
Attachments
aquadementia
Sealiner
CALLING REEFMAN!
Reckon it's a THORNTAIL.
Smith says: Dark brown to grey-black. Light underside without markings.
Compagno says: Tail much longer than the body.
Upper tail and disc of adults roughened by large flat thorns (absent in Juveniles).
1 to 2 stings on tail.
Short tail Stingray -
Smith says colour grey brown, no markings on disc or tail.
Compagno says: colour grey-brown or bluish-grey. Some adults have a row of small, pale blue spots at each pectoral fin base.
The tail is much longer in Juveniles.
Disc is smooth, except for large slender thorn on tail in front of the stings.
Underside is white.
Smith says: Dark brown to grey-black. Light underside without markings.
Compagno says: Tail much longer than the body.
Upper tail and disc of adults roughened by large flat thorns (absent in Juveniles).
1 to 2 stings on tail.
Short tail Stingray -
Smith says colour grey brown, no markings on disc or tail.
Compagno says: colour grey-brown or bluish-grey. Some adults have a row of small, pale blue spots at each pectoral fin base.
The tail is much longer in Juveniles.
Disc is smooth, except for large slender thorn on tail in front of the stings.
Underside is white.
It dint't have a thorn in front of sting and tail was same length as body, maybe shorter. No markings on body or tail or for that fact any other features. Just plain black all the way through. All it had was claspers so at least I know its a male.
Maybe its a thorntail that was injured when it was younger - lost its thorn and tail grew shorter.
Maybe its a thorntail that was injured when it was younger - lost its thorn and tail grew shorter.
aquadementia
Sealiner
I've sent the pic to Bruce Mann and Phil Heemstra, between the two of them they should be able to figure it out for us
WalkersKiller
Senior Member
Nice fish bud! Def a tough one to identify!
This is the reply I got from Dylan Clarke, Curator: Fish Collections, Iziko SA Museum
"Stingrays are difficult to identify to the species level, especially if you do not have the specimen in front of you.
Just going on shape of the disc alone, I would place it in the genus Himantura.
Based on the description that the tail length is less than that of the body it could be Himantura draco or the Dragon stingray.
The maximum size of the above-mentioned species is over 56 cm disc width. Also if the specimen has the anterior part of the tail covered with enlarged, flattened denticles (teeth-like structures) and a band of small dark spots on the upper rear margins of the disc, then it is probably Himantura draco.
There are only 4 species in this genus known from South Africa and the other 3 species all have tails that are longer than the length of the disc/body.
I hope this helps."
"Stingrays are difficult to identify to the species level, especially if you do not have the specimen in front of you.
Just going on shape of the disc alone, I would place it in the genus Himantura.
Based on the description that the tail length is less than that of the body it could be Himantura draco or the Dragon stingray.
The maximum size of the above-mentioned species is over 56 cm disc width. Also if the specimen has the anterior part of the tail covered with enlarged, flattened denticles (teeth-like structures) and a band of small dark spots on the upper rear margins of the disc, then it is probably Himantura draco.
There are only 4 species in this genus known from South Africa and the other 3 species all have tails that are longer than the length of the disc/body.
I hope this helps."
aquadementia
Sealiner
drawing of a dragon ray
http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/photos/PicturesSummary.php?ID=15662&what=species
I personally dont think it's a dragon stingray.
Adam can you tell us more about its teeth? Were they shark-like? Got any more pics?
http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/photos/PicturesSummary.php?ID=15662&what=species
I personally dont think it's a dragon stingray.
Adam can you tell us more about its teeth? Were they shark-like? Got any more pics?
aquadementia
Sealiner
You know I was thinking perhaps its a small pelagic stingray . . . . They are black, have short tails and have sharp teeth. They are usually found in open water but heck I caught a blue shark in the bay the other day and a so was a dorado last weekend so who knows what else is out there at the moment?!
