The Cowtail Stingray (Pastinachus sephen) is a tropical species that is a member of the ‘Stingray’ family. It is also commonly referred too as the Banana-tail Ray, Fantail ray and the Feathertail Stingray. This species has a broad distribution throughout the Indo – western Pacific region from the Red Sea to Australia, including Micronesia and Melanesia. This species is a large, uniformly dark stingray and has dense band of blunt denticles over the central disc. It’s tail is very broad and flattened anteriorly, it has a posteriorly located sting and the tail fold and tail tip are black in colour. The underside is mostly white. This species is generally found inshore and inhabitats coastal bays and estuaries where it can be found resting on sandy/silty bottoms. They are also encountered by divers on coral reefs and in coral lagoons. The Cowtail Stingray (Pastinachus sephen) grows to a maximum width of 1.8 metres and a total length of approximately 3 metres.
These images of the Cowtail Stingray were taken by Sascha Schulz.
|
