short tail short tail smooth common species family occurs southern africa typically offshore depth southern australia new_zealand zone depth dwelling nature found range habitats reefs frequently open water largest world heavy bodied species grows upwards weight plain colored diamond shaped pectoral fin disc characterized lack dermal denticles adults white pores head tail usually shorter disc thick base armed large row large spine dorsal ventral fin diet short tail consists invertebrates bony fishes including species tends remain relatively limited area year preferring deeper waters winter known perform long large rays form certain locations summer poor knight islands new_zealand mating documented poor knights species viviparous developing embryos sustained milk produced mother litter size short tail aggressive capable inflicting potentially lethal wound long sting caught incidentally commercial recreational fisheries range usually surviving released population appear threatened human activity listed concern taxonomy original description short tail curator female specimen caught new_zealand published account issue scientific journal named new species derived latin short tail subsequent authors assigned species obsolete genus short tail referred giant black ray giant new_zealand short tail ray short tailed black smooth short tailed closely related similar looking smaller pitted northwestern pacific description heavily built smooth pectoral fin disc short tail angular shape slightly wider long leading margins disc gently convex converge blunt broadly triangular snout eyes small immediately followed larger widely spaced nostrils long narrow short skirt shaped curtain skin fringed posterior margin sized mouth evenly arched lower jaw prominent grooves corners like structures floor additional tiny scattered nasal curtain outside lower jaw teeth arranged pattern flattened surfaces tooth small blunt roughly diamond shaped base tooth rows jaw pelvic fins somewhat large rounded tips tail usually shorter disc bears spines upper surface halfway length broad flattened base sting rapidly prominent ventral fin fold running sting tip low dorsal ridge dermal denticles found tail appearing tail base disc width adults row large backward pointing spear like flattened sting smaller conical sting covering tail tip dorsal coloration grayish brown tip tail eyes line white pores flanking head underside whitish fin margins beneath tail individuals reported short tail largest species known reach width length weight reliable observers new_zealand reported sighting individuals mature females larger mature males distribution habitat short tail common widely distributed temperate waters southern africa reported cape_town south_africa mouth southern australian coast found western australia queensland including tasmania new_zealand waters occurs rarely records northern australia thailand likely represent respectively past decades range numbers southeastern tasmania grown possibly result climate change southern africa short tail rare shallow water found offshore banks depth hand australia new_zealand found zone deeper australian new_zealand rays abundant summer tracking study conducted new_zealand rays suggests shift deeper waters winter undertake long distance short tail mainly dwelling nature inhabiting variety environments including sheltered bays sandy flats rocky reefs outer continental shelf makes regular upward middle water column biology ecology short tail usually slow moving achieve sudden bursts speed pectoral fins force water create bang known form large seasonal known example occurs summer january april poor knights islands new_zealand particularly rocky areas moves rising tide shallow water individual rays tend stay inside relatively small home range radius captive experiments shown capable detecting magnetic fields nature employed navigation short tail food day night feeds primarily benthic bony fishes invertebrates crustaceans lateral line system underside allows detect minute water jets produced buried worms extracted excess water expelled fishes invertebrates open water including eaten significant quantities south_africa ray observed patrolling egg beds squid mass capturing squid descend spawn short tail predators size include copper shark smooth great white shark killer whale threatened raises tail like smaller fishes observed swimming rays cover hunting prey known parasites species include life history summer short tail poor knights islands partly serve reproductive purpose mating observed gathered rays courtship mating place mid water speculated rising current flowing continuously narrow aids rays maintaining position receptive female followed males attempt bite grip disc males dragged female hours successful male upside beneath vent waving tail lasts minutes females captivity observed mating different males succession like short tail viviparous developing embryos exhaust yolk supply milk enriched proteins produced mother delivered specialized extensions called females bear litters pups summer males appear assist process female abdomen females ready mate shortly giving birth measure human interactions curious short tail approach humans trained hand fed western australia short tail australian bull rays regularly gather hand fed fish number visitors steadily increased recent years interest developing site permanent tourist attraction harassed species capable inflicting fatal wound sting sting measure long penetrate types including contains causes dangerous injuries involve damage vital organ massive blood loss secondary cases ray jumped water pierced chest cavity species responsible majority injuries new_zealand range short tail caught incidentally commercial fisheries danish purse set lines drag set nets caught recreational hook line boats shore spears individuals caught released alive cut tails safety practice significant impact rays long term survival sport occasionally captured rays meat competitions small number kept display public reproduced captivity survives fishing activities remains common range assessed short tail concern species range new_zealand targeting commercially prohibited
Short-tail stingray