It’s a stingray
It is a part of the dasyatids family, which are the whiptail stingrays.
There are around 70 whiptail stingray species. The smalleye is undoubtedly a stingray – it even still has it’s stinger, unlike manta species who lost their stingers many generations ago.
It’s large
In 1913, a maximum disc width (DW) of 222cm was recorded.
In 1976, a pregnant female of 206cm DW was recorded with an advanced-stage male foetus of 33cm DW.
The next largest stingray is the short-tail stingray, reaching 210cm DW
It’s rare
Scientific documentation of the species is still in it’s infancy – we have yet to uncover any tangible evidence of anything other than it’s existence in certain places. We know next to nothing of it’s life, essentially, and considering it’s size… this is all indicative of a very, very rare, patchy and widespread species.
Swimming method
The broad disc of this species indicates an ‘oscillatory’ (flapping) swimming mode, like that of mantas, eagle rays and mobulas. Typically, stingrays have an ‘undulatory’ (waving) swimming mode.
Piggy-backing
Possibly a predator-defence strategy to break the silhouettes of the smaller rays, or some hydrodynamic or foraging benefits for the smaller pink whiprays. We have yet to find out.
Semi-pelagic
They feed on the sandy bottom, however, smalleye stingrays are almost always witnessed to be swimming in midwater. Considering their broad disc, they have the attributes of a semi-pelagic creature.
What next…
Keep updated with the latest news on smalleye stingray research via blog posts on small updates
Small updates