Round Stingray – Taeniurops grabatus

Family: Dasyatidae

Common names

Round Stingray, Round Fantail Ray.

Binomial

Taeniurops grabatus.

Synonyms

Taeniura grabata, Taeniura grabatus, Taeniurops grabata, Trygon grabatus.

Identification

A fairly large stingray with a sub-circular disc that is very slightly wider than long. Snout fairly long, and obtusely angular, with a slightly extended, apical lobe. Anterior margins of disc convex. Pectoral fin apices broadly rounded. Pelvic fins short; apices narrowly rounded.
Eyes small. Snout length 2.2 x combined eye and spiracle length. Mouth small. Prominent labial furrows and papillae around mouth. Lower jaw concave at symphysis. Skirt-shaped nasal curtain short, wide, and heavily fringed. Nostrils small and oval.
Patch of denticles and low thornlets on nape, back, and tail. Tail narrow and short; slightly longer than disc width. Tail tapers to caudal sting then thins slowly to tip. Narrow ventral finfold extends to tip of tail; finfold height slightly less than tail height beyond caudal sting. Dorsal finfold absent. One long caudal sting usually present.

Colour

Dorsum tan to mid-brown darkening towards disc margin. Sometimes with scattered dark specks and spots. Tail beyond caudal sting fades to brownish-black. Ventral finfold dark.

Size

Maximum disc width at least 100cm. Reports of 2.5m wide individuals may be misidentifications. Disc width at birth unknown.

Round Fantail Stingray - Taeniurops grabatus.

Conservation Status

NEAR THREATENED

The Round Fantail Stingray (Taeniurops grabatus) is vulnerable to capture in trawl, line gear, gillnet, and set net across its range. In the Eastern Central Atlantic, it is retained for its meat, which is consumed locally and traded regionally salted-dried or dried and smoked.

Limited available data indicates that the round stingray is less common than it once was, but it remains common in some areas.

Habitat

Tropical to warm-temperate seas. On sandy substrates, often adjacent to reefs. From inshore to approximately 100m.

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic (southern France to Angola), southern Mediterranean, and possibly the Red Sea.

Reproduction

Matrotrophic viviparity. Litter size unknown.

Diet

The round stingray feeds on small benthic fishes and crustaceans.

Behavior

Sedentary. Rests under ledges and caves during the day.

Reaction to divers

Fairly easy to approach but will retreat deeper into hiding place if disturbed.

Diving logistics

The Round Stingray is frequently encountered while diving around the Canary Islands. Many dive shops should be able to show you sites where this species occurs. I photographed this ray near Arinaga on Grand Canaria. Another good place to find this species may be the stingray feed at Los Gigantes on Tenerife, although I did not see this species when I dove there.