Fish diurnal

Common Stingaree

Trygonoptera testacea

The most frequent visitor to Australia's eastern shorelines, the Common Stingaree is a master of sandy disguise. Watch closely as this graceful ray glides through estuaries and shallow flats, disappearing into the seabed with a flick of its fins.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Maximum length of 52 cm (20 in); typical disc width ranges from 20-30 cm (8-12 in).

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Colors

Dorsal surface is typically a uniform sandy brown, grayish, or yellowish-tan; underside is plain white with a darker margin around the disc.

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Key Features

Broadly triangular snout with a rounded pectoral disc
Small dorsal fin located just before the venomous tail spine
Leaf-shaped caudal (tail) fin with no distinct lobes
Skirt-shaped skin curtain between nostrils with a fringed edge

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 10 AM - 4 PM (for visual spotting) and during incoming high tides when they move into shallows to feed.

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Season Year-round, with increased sightings in summer months in shallow swimming areas.

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Diet A carnivorous bottom-feeder that primarily targets small crustaceans like shrimp, amphipods, and crabs, as well as polychaete worms and small mollusks hidden in the sand.

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Habitat Inshore coastal waters, sandy flats, estuaries, and occasionally around the edges of rocky reefs; found from the shoreline down to depths of 60 meters.

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Behavior

The Common Stingaree is a master of camouflage and a quintessential bottom-dweller. It spends a significant portion of its day partially buried in the sand or fine silt, using its pectoral fins to scoop substrate over its back until only its eyes and spiracles (breathing holes) are visible. This behavior serves a dual purpose: it protects the ray from larger predators like sharks and allows it to ambush unsuspecting prey. Despite their defensive sting, they are generally shy and will glide away gracefully if they sense heavy footsteps or vibrations in the water.

While they are often seen solo, they can congregate in high numbers in nutrient-rich estuaries or during breeding seasons. They are not aggressive toward humans, but they are the most frequent cause of 'stingray incidents' in eastern Australia because they frequent the very shallow waters where people wade. When stepped on, the ray reflexively whips its tail upward, a defensive mechanism that is highly effective but purely reactionary.

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Camera Tips

Capturing the Common Stingaree on camera requires a specialized 'backyard' approach—specifically, using a waterproof action camera or a dedicated underwater trail camera (often called a BRUV or Bait Remote Underwater Video). For the best results, mount your camera to a weighted base plate or a small tripod with 2-5kg of lead weight to ensure it doesn't drift with the current. Position the lens just 10-15 centimeters off the seabed, angled slightly upward to catch the profile of the ray as it glides past, or straight down if you are mounting it from a jetty to see their camouflaged patterns against the sand.

Baiting is the secret to getting high-quality close-ups. Use a perforated PVC pipe or a mesh 'burley' bag filled with oily fish scraps, such as pilchards or crushed prawns. Secure the bait bag approximately 0.5 to 1 meter in front of the lens. The scent will draw the Stingaree out of its buried position and encourage it to 'hover' over the bait, providing excellent footage of their unique mouthparts and fringed nasal curtains. Estuarine environments with low current are ideal, as high turbidity (cloudy water) will ruin your clarity; try to film during the 'slack' water period at the peak of high tide when the water is clearest.

Set your camera to a high frame rate (60fps or higher) if possible. Stingarees move their pectoral fins in a beautiful, undulating wave motion that looks spectacular in slow motion. Because the seabed can be quite bright due to reflected sunlight on sand, use an ND filter or adjust your exposure compensation to -0.5 to prevent blowing out the white details on their underside. If you are placing the camera in a residential canal or near a pier, check your equipment every 2-4 hours, as crabs and larger rays may attempt to move your bait bag out of the frame.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Common Stingaree.

Kapala Stingaree

Has a more pointed, angular snout and lacks the small dorsal fin found on the Common Stingaree.

Striped Stingaree

Distinguished by dark, radiating stripes or blotches on its back, whereas the Common Stingaree is plain.

Eastern Shovelnose Ray

Has a much longer, wedge-shaped snout and a thicker, more shark-like tail section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Stingarees are primarily active during the day, especially as the tide rises. They move into the shallow intertidal zones during high tide to forage for food in the freshly covered sand.

The best way to attract them is using scent. Use a mesh bag filled with crushed oily fish or prawns. Place the bait in a sandy area near an estuary or jetty where the current will carry the scent plume across the seafloor.

Their diet consists mostly of small invertebrates. They love 'nippers' (ghost shrimp), small crabs, and various marine worms that they suck out of the sand using their powerful mouths.

Yes, they are very common in suburban canals, boat ramps, and swimming beaches along the East Coast of Australia, particularly from southern Queensland down to Victoria.

Look for the tail; unlike many other rays, stingarees have a well-developed, leaf-shaped fin at the very end of their tail and a tiny dorsal fin just in front of their stinging spine.

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