PORT PHILLIP BAY


Western Shovelnose Ray 

Aptychotrema vincentiana

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Vertebrae: 167-171 (monospondylous 35-36; caudal 44-47)

Additional information in:
Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Order level detail.
Shark-like rays with slightly flattened disc-like bodies, relatively small pectoral fins fused to the disc and a long rather flattened tail. Contains the single family, Rhinobatidae.

Family level detail.
Small to medium rays, disc robust, oval to shovel-shaped, pectoral fins fused to the head, snout short to long snouts with a median cartilaginous support, tail long, robust and rather flattened with two well-developed dorsal fins and a prominent shark-like tail fin.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Chondrichthyes
Subclass:
Elasmobranchii
Superorder:
Batoidea
Order:
Rajiformes
Family:
Rhinobatidae
Genus:
Aptychotrema
Species:
vincentiana

General Description

A medium-sized shovelnose ray with a wedge-shaped disc, a long pointed triangular snout and thorns in front of the eye, near the spiracle and in a row along the back. Greyish-brown to yellowish above, with a dark bar extending forward from disc margin to eye and large dark blotches on body, underside pale. Juveniles often without dark markings. To 85 cm.

Biology

This species feeds mostly on fishes and crabs on sandy bottoms. Females give birth to live young.

Habitat

Shallow coastal waters, bays and estuaries, in depths to 125 m, although most above 30 m.

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

Southern and western Australia.

Species Group

Sharks and rays › Stingrays, stingarees and allies

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

85 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Harmful

Not usually considered dangerous to humans.

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Least Concern

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Western Shovelnose Ray, Aptychotrema vincentiana, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 06 May 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6579

Text: creative commons cc by licence