Ray
Sharpnose Stingray
Maculabatis gerrardi
A brown whipray of KZN sand flats with a pointed snout and a long venomous tail.
Also known as brown stingray, brown(sharpnose), sharpnose whipray, whitespotted whipray
- Typical size
- Disc width commonly 40-90 cm
- Habitat
- Sand and mud flats, estuary mouths
- Depth
- Shallows to about 60 m
The sharpnose stingray, also called the whitespotted whipray, is a brownish ray of the KwaZulu-Natal and East African coast, named for its distinctly pointed snout. Adults are fairly plain brown above while juveniles may show scattered pale spots, and the long slender tail carries a serrated venomous spine. It lies over sand and mud flats in coastal waters and estuary mouths, feeding on crabs, prawns and small bottom fish.
Divers on sandy ground may find it resting half-buried, moving off slowly when disturbed. As with all stingrays, the tail spine can cause a painful, dangerous wound, so give a wide berth and never handle one without controlling the tail. Best released unharmed if caught.