Patchwork stingaree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Patchwork stingaree |
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| Conservation status | |
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Urolophidae
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| Genus: |
Urolophus
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U. flavomosaicus
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| Binomial name | |
| Urolophus flavomosaicus Last & M. F. Gomon, 1987
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The patchwork stingaree (Urolophus flavomosaicus) is a type of stingray that lives in the ocean. It belongs to the family Urolophidae. This unique fish is found in two separate areas off the coast of Australia: one in the northwest and another in the northeast. It usually lives on the outer edge of the continental shelf, which is the underwater land extending from a continent. It can be found at depths from 60–320 m (200–1,050 ft).
This stingaree has a body shaped like a diamond, which is wider than it is long. Its tail is short and flat, with a noticeable dorsal fin (on its back) and a tail fin shaped like a leaf. It also has a special flap of skin between its nostrils that looks like a skirt. The top of its body has a cool pattern that looks like a mosaic. It has dark brown rings with lighter centers, all separated by thin lines. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says the patchwork stingaree is of Least Concern. This means it's not currently in danger because not many people fish for it.
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About the Patchwork Stingaree's Name
Scientists Peter Last and Martin Gomon first described the patchwork stingaree in 1987. They named it flavomosaicus. This name comes from two Latin words: flavus, which means "yellow," and mosaicus, which means "mosaic." They chose this name because of the stingaree's special color pattern.
The first official sample of this species, called the type specimen, was a male stingaree about 33 cm (13 in) wide. It was found north of Port Hedland, Western Australia, on April 21, 1982, by a research ship named FRV Soela. The patchwork stingaree seems to be closely related to two other types of stingarees: the sandyback stingaree and the butterfly stingaree.
Where Patchwork Stingarees Live
The patchwork stingaree is a fish that is endemic to northern Australia. This means it's only found there. Its home is split into two main areas. The western group lives from the Houtman Abrolhos islands to Cape Leveque in Western Australia. The eastern group lives from Caloundra to Townsville in Queensland.
These stingarees are not found everywhere in these areas; they seem to live in small, scattered groups. This type of fish is benthic, meaning it lives on or near the bottom of the ocean. They prefer soft, fine sand or mud on the outer part of the continental shelf. People have seen them living in waters from 60 to 320 m (200 to 1,050 ft) deep.
What the Patchwork Stingaree Looks Like
The patchwork stingaree is one of the bigger members of its family. It can grow to be at least 59 cm (23 in) long. Its body is shaped like a diamond, much wider than it is long. The outer corners are nicely rounded, and the front edges are almost straight, meeting at a wide angle. The tip of its nose sticks out a little bit past its body.
It has small eyes, and behind each eye is a comma-shaped opening called a spiracle. These spiracles have sharp edges at the back. The outer edge of each nostril might have a small bump. Between its nostrils, there's a skirt-shaped flap of skin with a finely fringed edge. Inside its large mouth, there are 8 to 14 small, bumpy structures called papillae on the bottom. There's also a narrow area of larger papillae on its lower jaw. Its teeth are small with oval bases. It has five pairs of short gill slits. The pelvic fins, located on its underside, are small with curved edges.
Its tail is short and very flat, about 67–79% as long as its body. The tail ends in a short, deep, leaf-shaped caudal fin (tail fin). There's a fold of skin along each side of the tail, which is easier to see in younger stingarees. On the top of its tail, there's a fairly large dorsal fin (back fin), followed by a stinging spine with jagged edges. The skin of this stingaree is completely smooth and does not have any dermal denticles, which are tiny, tooth-like scales found on some sharks and rays.
The color pattern on its back is very special. It has a yellowish background with many large, dark brown rings. These rings surround lighter spots. Sometimes, fine, pale lines connect these rings, especially in the middle of its body, making it look like a mosaic. The rings get smaller and less clear towards the edges of its body. The dorsal and caudal fins are light-colored in adult stingarees, but in young ones, they are dark with almost black edges.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Scientists don't know much about the daily life of the patchwork stingaree. It seems to play a similar role in the tropical ocean as the sandyback stingaree does in cooler waters.
Like other stingrays, the patchwork stingaree likely gives live birth. This means the babies develop inside the mother's body. The developing embryos are fed by a special liquid from the mother, sometimes called "uterine milk." Based on related species, it's thought that stingarees probably have only a few babies at a time. Male patchwork stingarees become mature when they are less than 38 cm (15 in) long.
How Humans Interact with Patchwork Stingarees
There are only a couple of fishing areas in Australia that operate where the patchwork stingaree lives. These are the Coral Sea Fishery off Queensland and the Western Trawl Fisheries off Western Australia.
These fisheries are not very big, so they don't catch many patchwork stingarees. It's also unlikely that these fishing operations will get much larger in the future. Because of this, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the patchwork stingaree as a species of Least Concern. This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing. The species could also benefit from Australia's 2004 plan to protect and manage sharks and rays.
