Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Torpediniformes
- Family
- Trygonorrhinidae
- Genus
- Trygonorrhina
- Species
- dumerilii
Habitat
The Eastern fiddler ray inhabits shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and bays along the southern coast of Australia. It prefers sandy or muddy substrates where it can bury itself partially. This species is commonly found at depths of up to 50 meters, avoiding deeper offshore areas.
Diet
Eastern fiddler rays primarily feed on mollusks, crustaceans, and polychaete worms found on the seafloor. They use their strong jaws to crush shells and extract prey, often hunting by ambushing from a buried position. Feeding activity peaks at night when they are more active and less likely to be disturbed.
Behavior
Eastern fiddler rays are primarily solitary and spend much of their time buried in sand or mud to avoid predators and ambush prey. They are nocturnal, becoming more active at night for feeding and movement, while resting during the day. These rays exhibit territorial behavior around feeding grounds but generally avoid aggressive interactions.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status of the Eastern fiddler ray is Least Concern, with a stable population trend. Major threats include habitat loss from coastal development and incidental capture in fishing nets.