Cowtail stingray (Pastinachus sephen)

Scientific name: Pastinachus sephen Forssk?l, 1775

Cowtail stingray (Pastinachus sephen)

The Cowtail stingray (Pastinachus sephen) is a freshwater fish of the family Dasyatidae. Native range: Indo-West Pacific, Red Sea, Persian Gulf and South Africa to Micronesia, north to Japan, south to Melanesia and the Arafura Sea.

Biology

Found in lagoons, reef flats, and reef faces. Also in rivers far from the sea. Feeds on bony fishes, worms, shrimp, and crabs. Ovoviviparous. Adults are sometimes accompanied by remoras or members of the trevally family. Size at birth about 18 cm WD or larger. Flesh utilized as food and skin used for polishing wood. Possibly caught by sports anglers. Recently there is a targeted fishery on this species for its skin, which is used as 'shagreen' in fashion accessories, from wallets to fancy pens; as a result, the species is in danger of disappearance (IHT 26.11.2005, p.5). Maximum length about 300 cm TL.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Pastinachus sephen
Family
Dasyatidae (Stingrays)
Order
Rajiformes (Skates and Rays)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
183
Common length
65.0
Depth range
60 m (197 ft)
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; amphidromous; depth range ? - 60 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Persian Gulf and South Africa to Micronesia, north to Japan, south to Melanesia and the Arafura Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Data deficient (DD)
Threat to humans
Venomous
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Assuming Fec

More other freshwater fish

See all other freshwater fish

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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