Fish Identification.

 Marbled Ray

Also known as Marbled Ray, Marbled Ribbontail Ray, Giant Reef Ray, Bull Ray Barb, Black Spotted Ray, Black Spotted Stingray, Black-Blotched Stingray, Blotched Fantail Ray, Fantail Ray, Fantail Stingray, Round Ribbontail Ray and Speckled Stingray.

Found near coral reefs and inshore on sandy bottoms, often half buried in the sand.
Can look like the "Martians" have landed.
They feed on bivalves, shrimps, crabs, octopus and worms.
Disc - 164cm
Depth - 2-500m
Widespread Indo-Pacific


The Marbled Stingray has a roughly circular-shaped disc (body), no thorns, has a mottled black and white pattern on the upper surface and white underneath. The depressed tail is slightly longer than the disk.
This Ray is not generally aggressive but is known to be responsible for at least one human fatality, the infamous Steve Irwin - Crocodile Hunter!

Rays are bottom feeders, they settle themselves down over their prey, trapping them against the substrate with their disc, then flexing their disc flaps and manoeuvring the victims into their mouths.
Most rays live in the sea, but some can be found in estuaries, often hard to see as they can be buried in the sand, occasionally they can be seen leaping out of the water.
As a form of defence rays have electric organs while others have venomous spines.
Usually rays will swim out of harms way if approached, however they can give a nasty sting which could prove fatal.
Never swim over the top of large rays, they think you are a predator and are likely to whip their tails in defense! (as happened to Steve Irwin)