Urolophidae - Stingarees

The species in this family of rays are found in ocean waters in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, especially around Australia.

Stingarees are found on the ocean bottom, usually partially buried in the sand. Their coloration helps to camouflage them from both predators and prey.

Stingarees have dimond-shaped or oval pectoral fins, short tails and they have a leaf-shaped caudal fin and some species have a small dorsal fin.

Stingarees have one or more barbed venomous spines on their tails that they use to defend themselves.

Stingaress eat small fish and invertabrates.

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in Wild Extinct Not Enough Data
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist.

U.S. Status Key Threatened in US Endangered in US Introduced Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife. Click on U.S. status icon to go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife species profile.

New Hampshire Status Key Threatened in NH Endangered in NH Breeds in NH (birds) Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Location Key
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH Click for More Info Click for Image
Arctic Ocean Atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean Mediterranean/Black Sea Pacific Ocean

Additional Information

Key: Profile Photos Video Audio

Yellow Shovelnose Stingaree - Trygonoptera galba
The yellow shovelnose stingaree is found in the Indian Ocean off the western coast of Australia.
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Eastern Shovelnose Stingaree - Trygonoptera imitata
The eastern shovelnose stingaree is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans off the coast of southeastern Australia.
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Western Shovelnose Stingaree - Trygonoptera mucosa
The western shovelnose stingaree is found in the Indian Ocean off the coast of southwestern Australia.
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Striped Stingaree - Trygonoptera ovalis
The striped stingaree is found in the Indian Ocean off the coast of southwestern Australia.
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Masked Stingaree - Trygonoptera personata
The masked stingaree is found in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Western Australia.
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Common Stingaree - Trygonoptera testacea
The common stingaree is found in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of eastern Australia.
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Sandyback Stingaree - Urolophus bucculentus
The sandyback stingaree is found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans off the coast of southeastern Australia.
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Circular Stingaree - Urolophus circularis
The circular stingaree is found in the Indian Oceans off the coast of  southwestern Australia.
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Crossback Stingaree - Urolophus cruciatus
The crossback stingaree is also known as the banded stingaree. It is found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans off the coast of southeastern Australia.
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Patchwork Stingaree - Urolophus flavomosaicus
The patchwork stingaree is found in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Western Australia and in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Queensland.
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Sinclair’s Stingaree - Urolophus gigas
Sinclair's stingaree is also known as the spotted stingaree. It is found in the Indian Oceans across much of southern Australia.
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Kapala Stingaree - Urolophus kapalensis
The Kapala stingaree is found in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of New South Wales and Queensland in Australia.
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Lobed Stingaree - Urolophus lobatus
The lobed stingaree is found in the Indian Ocean off the coast of southern Western Australia.
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Blotched Stingaree - Urolophus mitosis
The blotched stingaree is found in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Western Australia.
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Coastal Stingaree - Urolophus orarius
The coastal stingaree is found in the Indian Ocean off the coast of southern Australia,
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Sparsely-spotted Stingaree - Urolophus paucimaculatus
The sparsely-spotted stingaree is found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans off the coast of southern Australia.
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Yellowback Stingaree - Urolophus sufflavus
The yellowback stingaree is found in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of New South Wales and Queensland in Australia.
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Greenback Stingaree - Urolophus viridis
The greenback stingaree is found in the Pacific and Indian Ocean off the coasts of New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, and Victoria in Australia.
Source: Fishes of Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No