Ray
Thorntail Stingray
Bathytoshia lata
A large dark stingray with a long whip-like tail studded with thorns, found on Cape and KZN reefs and sand.
Also known as longtail stingray, thorntail
- Typical size
- Disc commonly 1-1.8 m across
- Habitat
- Reef and sandy bottoms
- Depth
- Shallows to about 400 m
The thorntail stingray, also known as the black or longtail stingray, is a big, dusky-grey to almost black ray with an angular disc and a very long, tapering tail armed with rows of sharp thorns and one or more venomous spines. The thorny tail is its most distinctive feature and its main defence.
It ranges over reef and sandy areas from the Cape up the east coast, feeding on bottom invertebrates and fish. Like other large stingrays it is generally placid but should be treated with respect, as the long spined tail can lash out if the animal feels threatened. Divers who keep a calm distance can watch these impressive rays foraging without disturbance.