Ningaloo Maskray, Neotrygon ningalooensis Last, White & Puckridge 2010


A Ningaloo Maskray, Neotrygon ningalooensis, at Cape Leveque, Western Australia. Source: Graham Edgar / Reef Life Survey. License: CC by Attribution

Summary:
A large maskray with many small orange spots and larger bluish white blotches irregularly scattered on the upper surface, and the body and tail naked except for a row of 4-5 thornlets on the back. 

The Ningaloo Maskray has highly protrusible eyes allowing it to bury deeper into the bottom while leaving the eyes exposed than other species in the genus Neotrygon. 

Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray, Neotrygon ningalooensis in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4795

Ningaloo Maskray, Neotrygon ningalooensis Last, White & Puckridge 2010

More Info


Distribution

Endemic to shallow coastal waters from Shark Bay, Western Australia, to the Gulf of Carpentaria, Northern Territory. Inhabits inshore sandy bottoms close to reef areas in depths to 5 m.

Features


Size


Colour

Upper surface yellowish-brown, darker towards the disc margins, with many dark small well-defined orange spots centre of the disc, larger pale blue spots evenly distributed over the disc, an indistinct darker mask-like across the eye, and alternating black and white bands on the tail behind the spines.

Feeding


Biology


Fisheries


Conservation


Remarks


Similar Species


Etymology

The specific name ningalooensis is for the type locality, Ningaloo, the location of an important marine park rich in elasmobranch species.

Species Citation

Neotrygon ningalooensis Last, White & Puckridge, 2010, Aqua: International Journal of Ichthyology 16(2): 39, Figs. 1, 2A, 3-6, 7A. Type locality: Five Fingers Reef, Coral Bay, Western Australia, 23°10'S, 113°45'E, Australia, depth 3 m.

Author

Dianne J. Bray

Resources


Ningaloo Maskray, Neotrygon ningalooensis Last, White & Puckridge 2010

References


Ferretti, F. & White, W.T. 2011. Neotrygon ningalooensis. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. . Downloaded on 18 May 2014.

Last, P.R., White, W.T. & Puckridge, M. 2010. Neotrygon ningalooensis n. sp. (Myliobatoidei, Dasyatidae), a new maskray from Australia. Aqua: International Journal of Ichthyology 16(2): 37–50.


Puckridge, M., Last, P.R.,White, W.T. & Andreakis, N. 2013. Phylogeography of the Indo-West Pacific maskrays (Dasyatidae, Neotrygon): a complex example of chondrichthyan radiation in the Cenozoic. Ecology and Evolution 3(2): 217–232. doi:10.1002/ece3.448. PDF

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37035030

Conservation:IUCN Data Deficient

Danger:Venomous spines on tail

Depth:0-5 m

Max Size:30+ cm Disc width

Native:Endemic

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Species Maps

CAAB distribution map