Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Myliobatiformes
- Family
- Dasyatidae
- Genus
- Dasyatis
- Species
- brevicaudata
Habitat
This species inhabits coastal waters, estuaries, and bays over sandy or muddy substrates in temperate and tropical regions. It prefers depths from shallow intertidal zones to about 100 meters, commonly found in the Indo-Pacific including Australia and New Zealand. They often bury themselves in the sediment to avoid predators.
Diet
Short-tail stingrays primarily feed on bottom-dwelling invertebrates such as crabs, shrimp, mollusks, and small fish. They use their pectoral fins to stir up the seafloor and uncover prey, typically foraging at night or during low light conditions. Feeding behavior is opportunistic, taking advantage of abundant local food sources.
Behavior
Short-tail stingrays are mostly solitary or form loose groups, often burying themselves in sand during the day and becoming more active at night. They exhibit territorial behavior when feeding and can deliver a defensive sting if threatened. These rays are known for their graceful gliding motion over the seafloor and quick escapes when disturbed.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN.