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Stingrays Mad Splash of Fins Saw Us Both Turn Tail and Flee in Opposite Directions! of Sydney, Australia

Stingrays Mad Splash of Fins Saw Us Both Turn Tail and Flee in Opposite Directions! of Sydney, Australia

ecology

A smooth glides over the kelp at the , New Zealand.

Text by Nigel Marsh Photos by Nigel Marsh and Andy Murch Gliding slowly over the rocky , I was mesmerised, watching all the colourful reef going about their daily activities. I was so entranced that I was startled to look up and find I was on a collision course with a massive stingray. This was the first stingray I had ever seen, and the giant creature terrified Sorting Out the me. In the second it took my panicking brain to work out what to do, the stingray suddenly saw me and also got a shock. A Stingrays mad splash of fins saw us both turn tail and flee in opposite directions! of Sydney, . Once my almost 2m wide and did not I think my love of stingrays with their dagger-like tail spines, courage returned, I jumped back seem to be too bothered by started that day, and almost but because they are fascinating Stingrays are mainly found into the water, and this time, got an annoying little kid swimming 50 years later, I still get a thrill to watch as they go about their in tropical and subtropical I can still clearly remember that a closer look at this magnificent alongside. However, I was still very whenever I encounter a member daily lives; be it digging in the waters, but a few venture into first stingray encounter, even —a smooth stingray, the wary, staying well away from the of this diverse and interesting sand for food, gliding gracefully temperate zones. And as most though I was only nine years largest stingray in the tail, where I could see a large group of —not because around the reef or simply lazing stingrays inhabit shallow water, old, snorkelling in a bay north world. This graceful ray was and lethal spine. they are potentially dangerous on the bottom. they can be found at many

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Blotched fantail rays are often seen cruising or hovering in midwa- ter when a is running (left). This one was photographed off Tweed Heads, Australia; The bluespot- ted ribbontail ray is easy to distinguish from other small rays with blue spots by its oval shape (below). This one was found shelter- ing under a wreck in the .

A view of the underside of a smooth sting- ray shows off its mouth and gills (left).

popular dive sites around the planet. the devil rays, eagle rays, stingarees The names are quite complex, like At some dive sites, the stingrays are the and several lesser known groups. Bathytoshia, so I have included a common main attraction. Accustomed to divers, Stingrays are further placed in the super group name for each genus. Some of they are easy to approach, study and family Dasyatidae which contains four these are in general usage, but I have also photograph. There are also a number of sub-families: Dasyatinae, Hypolophinae, had to create a few names based on a popular stingray feeds, like the famous Neotrygoninae and Urogymninae. common feature. Stingray City in the , Until recently, there was thought to be where divers can literally get mugged by around 60 stingray species contained Bathytoshia – Roughtail Rays dozens of hungry rays. within five genera groups. However, a This genus of stingrays contains three major review of the family in 2016 by species that all have a rough tail, Family shakeup researchers Peter Last, Gavin Naylor covered in dermal denticles. While many stingrays look the same, and Mabel Manjaji-Matsumoto, looking there are actually close to one hundred at morphological and molecular differ­ Smooth stingray. The best known species that vary greatly in size, shape, ences, has drastically changed the member of this family is the one I first colouration and tail length. In recent family, with 95 species now recognised met as a child, the largest stingray in the years, the stingray family has had a within 19 genera. This is such a drastic world, the smooth stingray (Bathytoshia major shake-up, with many new species change that most guidebooks and brevicaudata). This species, like most described and many species rearranged websites used to identify stingrays are stingrays, was once placed in the large within the family, which can make sorting completely out of date. genus, but the revisions have seen out the stingrays very tricky. To help divers sort through the changes this genus reduced to just five species. Stingrays are a member of the large within the stingray family, this article will The smooth stingray is found only in 2.1m, and has a short tail and often a rays. The rays are almost local celebrities, and diverse ray family, Batoidea, which look at many common stingrays found the Southern Hemisphere, inhabiting the white-spotted V-shaped pattern around well known to everyone in the local contains over 600 species in 26 family around the world and where they fit within temperate waters of southern Australia, the head. In Australia, this species is community. Unfortunately, this does groups. Stingrays (the family is also the stingray family tree. I will look at these New Zealand and . Well very common around jetties and boat not stop some fishers from killing them known as whiptail stingrays) are placed stingrays, genus-by-genus, as each genus known to divers in cooler waters, the ramps—spots where fishers clean their or chopping off their tails if they are in the order , along with contains stingrays with similar features. smooth stingray reaches a width of catch and throw scraps to the resident accidently hooked.

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The broad stingray is found around the world in temperate and subtropical zones and has many common names (above); One of the strangest stingray aggregations occurs off Byron Bay, Australia, each summer when thousands of Coral Sea maskrays gather in the gutters at Julian Rocks (left); The Tortonese’s stingray is often mistaken for the , which is not common at all, but has a larger spiracle (bottom left). This one was photographed at the .

For this reason, this species has many science, the common stingray is found common names around the world, in the Eastern Atlantic, including the including the , black Mediterranean and . Typically stingray, brown stingray and thorntail grey to golden-brown in colour, there One of the best places to see this species stingray. The broad stingray is found in both is a bit of a dispute as to how big this is the Poor Knights Islands in New Zealand, temperate and subtropical waters, with species grows, with some sources saying where it is called the short-tailed stingray. two of the best places to see them being 60cm wide, and others 1.4m wide. The Seen on almost every dive at this wonderful the Canary Islands and Poor Knights Islands common stingray is not as common as it dive destination, these rays are known to in New Zealand. once was, due to fishing , and occasionally gather en masse over the is now listed as “near threatened.” This summer months, cruising in midwater in Dasyatis – Rough Rays species is mostly seen by divers in the caves and arches. This poor genus took a beating in the Mediterranean and Canary Islands but is recent review, losing almost all its members not really common anywhere anymore. Broad stingray. The other common member apart from five species that are limited to of this genus has caused quite a bit of the . The rough rays get Tortonese’s stingray. A more common confusion since the recent review. The their name from the Greek term dasyatis— member of this genus is the closely related broad stingray (Bathytoshia lata) looks very with dasys meaning rough. But only some Tortonese’s stingray (Dasyatis tortonesei). similar to the smooth stingray but has a long older rays in this genus have rough skin and This species is found over much the same tail and a row of thorns along its back. This a row of thorns along the back, but they area as the common stingray, and looks species varies in colour from black to brown all have the classic diamond shape and a very similar, so telling them apart can be and grows to 1.8m wide. medium-length tail with upper and lower tricky, with the Tortonese’s stingray having a Once thought to occur only around skin folds. larger spiracle. The Canary Islands appears the Hawaiian Islands, the review found to be the best destination to see this ray, that several other stingray species from Common stingray. Well known to especially at Los Gigantes on Tenerife. around the world were actually this the ancient Greeks and Romans, the At this site, a ray feed is conducted, species. However, since the Hawaiian one common stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca) attracting up to six species of rays, with was the first to be described, the other is the archetypal member of this genus. the Tortonese’s stingrays being the most scientific names have become obsolete. One of the first rays described by common and numerous of attendees.

PRILFISH / FLICKR / CC BY 2.0

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Southern stingray. While a few enjoy training in a whole new way! of these stingrays are seen by divers, the most famous member of this clan is the southern stingray ( CREATING LEADERS americanus). Found from the southern United States to , this species is best seen in the Caribbean. The southern learn more about stingray varies in colour from grey to brown, with the naui leadership and females growing to 1.5m in width, while the poor males develop the techniques only reach 67cm wide. The and confidence to best place to see dozens of these rays is Stingray City in the become a naui dive Cayman Islands. professional. – Small Whiprays – Fantail Rays These small to medium-size stingrays have the classic The fantail rays typically have a round disc and a short diamond shape, a medium-length whip-like tail and tail with a long skin fold. some have dermal denticles on the body and tail, while others do not. There are ten members of this Blotched fantail ray. The most common member of genus that are found in the central Indo-Pacific and this genus, which only contains two species, is the northwest Pacific in tropical to temperate waters. blotched fantail ray ( meyeni). This wide- ranging tropical and subtropical species is found Red stingray. The red stingray (Hemitrygon akajei) is throughout the Indo-Pacific region. This species has probably the easiest member of this group for divers many common names, such as the marble stingray, to see. Found off Japan, and , the red black-blotched ray and black-spotted stingray. stingray does have a reddish-brown colour that can continue onto the ventral surface. Growing to a width of 66cm, this species is captured for food so is listed as “near threatened.” Occasionally seen by divers in Japan, large numbers of these usually shy stingrays gather at a shark feed called the Shark Scramble, off Tateyama, Chiba. Hypanus – Thorny Back Rays The stingrays in this family all have a row of thorny dermal denticles [email protected] along their back, and a medium- +1 813.628.6284 @NAUIWorldwide size whip-like tail. The genus contains eight members that are COURSE DIRECTOR | CROSSOVER | | FIT | FREEDIVER | INSTRUCTOR only found in the warmer waters of the eastern Pacific and western Atlantic.

ANDY MURCH

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A juvenile bluespotted ribbontail ray found on a night dive off Uepi in the (left). Baby and juvenile stingrays are rarely seen, as they hide from preda- tors; Blotched fantail rays vary in colour from black to grey with blotches (far left); This round fan- tail ray shows off a typical feature of this genus, a round disc (center). This one was photographed in the Canary Islands.

The blotched fantail ray varies greatly by divers is the bluespotted ribbontail These stingrays are small, with a short tail in colour from black, to black with white ray (Taeniura lymma). Found in tropical and a distinctive dark mask colouration or grey blotches and even grey with waters throughout the Indo-West Pacific, across the . While species with blue black blotches. This species grows to this species is one of the easiest to identify spots are the best-known members of this 1.8m in width and while it spends most when exploring coral reefs, due to its family, others have black spots and some of its time on the bottom, they also like oval shape and bright blue spots. This rarer ones have pretty mosaic patterns. to hover in midwater when a current is small stingray only reaches a width of running. Blotched fantail rays can be 30cm, and they tend to hide under plate Oriental bluespotted . Divers seen almost everywhere, but they are corals and holes in the reef more often exploring the reefs and muck sites of particularly common in Australia. While than bury in the sand. Divers can see often come across the you will run into the occasional one on this species anywhere across its range, oriental bluespotted maskray (Neotrygon the or Ningaloo Reef, from the Red Sea to the Solomon Islands. orientale). This small ray naturally has blue they are most abundant in subtropical There are several other small bluespotted spots and was one of the rays commonly waters, with large numbers seen off stingray species, but it is easy to identify called the bluespotted maskray. southern Queensland and northern New which is which as these other stingrays South Wales. have a kite shape, less vivid spots and a Coral Sea maskray. A far more common dark mask across the eyes, which has led member of this genus that also has blue Round fantail ray. The only other to them being called maskrays. spots is found off the eastern coast of member in this genus is the round Australia and is now called the Coral fantail ray (Taeniura grabata). Found Neotrygon – Maskrays Sea maskray (Neotrygon trigonoides). in the warmer waters of the eastern One of the biggest shake-ups in the This is one of three maskrays with blue Atlantic, this species grows to 1m in stingray family happened to the spots found in Australian waters, but this width and is typically a brownish colour maskrays. These small stingrays got their is the most abundant species, especially with darker spots and blotches. The members of this genus were removed research showed they were not related, own genus and what was once thought off southern Queensland and northern round fantail ray is most commonly to form the next genus, Taeniura. even though they have a similar fan-like to be one wide-ranging bluespotted New South Wales. One of the best seen by divers around the Canary tail, but an oval-shaped disc. maskray, is now known to be eight places to see this species is Julian Rocks Islands. These two stingrays were some Taeniura – Ribbontail Rays different regional species. The maskray off Byron Bay, and while several are of the few that did not get a name The two members of this genus were Bluespotted ribbontail ray. The most genus now contains 16 species that are always seen on a dive, sometimes over change in the recent review, but two removed from Taeniurops as phylogenetic common member of this family seen found throughout the Indo-Pacific region. the summer months, thousands gather

61 X-RAY MAG : 98 : 2020 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO The Coral Sea maskray is a common species off eastern Australia, with this one photographed Stingrays ecology at the Gold Coast (left); A diver gets close to a broad off Brisbane, Australia (right); The beauti- fully patterned reticu- lated whipray is found throughout the Indo- West Pacific, with this one photographed off the Arabian Peninsula (below); The oriental bluespotted maskray is often seen at muck sites in Southeast Asia, with this one photographed off Lembeh, (bottom right).

ANDY MURCH

in the sandy gutters at this site for some – unknown reason. Patterned Whiprays Many more stingray Patinachus – Cowtail Rays species were once found the reticulated leoparda) and the honeycomb whipray Until recently, there was only thought to in this genus, but the shake- and Australian (Himantura undulata) also have a - be one wide-ranging cowtail stingray up created six additional whiprays can like skin patterns but are less commonly species found across the Indo-Pacific genera from the members have leopard- seen by divers. region, but the research found there are of this group, leaving only like skin patterns, five regional species with the distinctive four species in Himantura. and the two – Plain Whiprays long skin fold at the end of the tail. The patterned whiprays other members This is one of the groups that split from have a very long whip-like of the group, the Himantura, they also have long whip-like Cowtail stingray. The original cowtail tail and are the prettiest tails, but have very plain colouration. stingray ( sephen) is not as of all the stingrays, with (Himantura wide-ranging as originally thought and their beautifully patterned . is only found in the northwestern Indian skin. These rays are only This genus Ocean area. found in the tropical and contains five subtropical waters of the species found Broad cowtail stingray. The most Indo-West Pacific. Australia until the recent review, when in the Indo- abundant and widespread member of it was discovered that the Australian Pacific region, this genus is the broad cowtail stingray Reticulated whipray. The reticulated whipray (Himantura australis) is a with the most (Pastinachus ater). One of the newly whipray (Himantura uarnak) is the most separate species. These two stingrays widespread described species, this large ray grows wide-ranging member of this genus, look almost identical, so locality is the and to 1.8m wide and is found in tropical found throughout the Indo-West Pacific, best way to tell them apart. Divers have abundant and subtropical waters throughout the but not in Australia. These pretty rays a better chance of seeing this pretty species Indo-West Pacific. Targeted by fishers for can grow to 2m in width and have a ray, especially off southern Queensland. being the its flesh and skin, this species is listed as spectacular skin pattern of reticulations Groups of Australian whipray are pink whipray “near threatened,” so is not as common and sometimes leopard-like spots. sometimes found at dive sites off Rainbow (Pateobatis as it once was. The only area that I have Encounters with this ray are rare. Beach, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. fai). Although found this species to be common is off called the southern Queensland, Australia. Australian whipray. The reticulated Leopard whipray & honeycomb whipray. pink whipray, whipray was also thought to be found in The confusing thing about this genus is that this species

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A fever of pink whiprays at Manta Bommie off Brisbane, Australia The Jenkins whipray is best identified by the row of spines along its (above); The strangest member of the stingray family is the spine-less back (above). This one was found sheltering under a shipwreck off the porcupine stingray (right). These rare rays are best seen in Australia, with Perhentian Islands, . this one found at Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef. and is listed as Other species is generally a brownish-grey colour and “vulnerable.” There are many other genera in the can reach a width of 1.8m. A very social – Prickly Australia is one stingray family that I have not included stingray, pink stingrays are often seen Whiprays of the best in this article, as they are rarely seen in a fever (a group of rays) that can This genus was places to see by divers, either living in and number from five to fifty. These rays also thought to contain this weird ray, or having a pelagic lifestyle. like to hang around other larger stingrays, only one species, with occasional Sorting out the stingrays must have and have been seen riding the backs the very strange sightings on the been a mammoth task for the scientists of blotched fantail rays. The porcupine stingray, Great Barrier who did the research work, and there is is a good place to see pink whiprays, but the recent Reef and sure to be more changes in the future in and they are seen in large numbers at a review has found Ningaloo Reef. this complex and diverse family of rays. shark/ray feed at Alimatha Faru. They are that several If you would like to know more also common off southern Queensland, more species, about stingrays and other rays, I have Australia, with large groups of them seen once placed in whipray. The only started a Facebook group called the at Manta Bommie off Brisbane. Himantura, belong other member Ray Photography Group, so people in this group. The of this genus can share photos, videos and their Jenkins whipray. The very similar looking genus now contains six species, all have Porcupine stingray. The best-known seen by divers is the knowledge of this very interesting group Jenkins whipray (Pateobatis jenkinsii) is a round disk, a long whip-like tail and member of this genus is the porcupine (Urogymnus granulatus). Found on of marine creatures. found over an almost similar range to dermal denticles on their backs and tail. stingray (Urogymnus asperrimus), which reefs and in mangroves, this ray is easily the pink whipray, but is less commonly is quite rare, but occasionally seen by identified by its long white-coloured tail. Biology and behaviour seen by divers. It may look similar, but the Giant . A few of divers in the tropical waters of the Indo- Found throughout the tropical Indo-West Stingrays, like all the rays, are very closely easiest way to tell them apart is by the the prickly whiprays live in mangroves West Pacific. This strange ray is covered Pacific, the mangrove whipray reaches related to their cousins, the sharks, and row of short spines along the back of the and rivers, including the famous giant in short spines, hence the name, and is a width of 1.4m. This is another ray that is share many similar body features. The Jenkins whipray. One of the best places freshwater whipray (Urogymnus polylepis) the only member of the stingray family best seen in Australia, on the inner islands main difference between the two is to see this stingray is the Perhentian of Southeast Asia. to lack a tail spine. The porcupine and reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. that rays have their pectoral fins fused Islands off Malaysia. stingray can reach a width of 1.2m with their head and also have their gills

63 X-RAY MAG : 98 : 2020 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO Like many stingray species, round fantail rays like to rest in caves (right); A rarely seen sight, a pink whipray being cleaned by a group of but- terflyfish (below); When heavily pregnant blotched fantail rays get large bulges on their backs (center); The mangrove whipray is rare- Stingrays ecology ly seen by divers (bottom left). This one has lost its distinctive white whiptail and was photographed off the United Arab Emirates.

on their ventral surface (the ingesting sand. underside of the body). Stingrays Sharks also have differ from other closely related spiracles, but they members of the ray family by their are very small longer tails, which lack dorsal, in most species, anal and caudal fins, but can apart from a few have skin folds. Most stingrays bottom-dwelling are quite large, over one metre sharks. in width, but their disc can vary Like sharks, greatly in shape—from round to stingrays have diamond-like to even oval. They an acute array also have small pelvic fins, and of sensors that many have rough spines, dermal help them detect denticles or tubercles, on their tail prey. As most or back. All stingrays have a tail of their prey lies spine (except for the porcupine buried in the stingray) for defence, which sand, where they regrows when lost. cannot be seen As most stingrays like to hide by rays, they rely under a layer of sand, they on other sensors to locate prey. following a female to see if she Cleaning stations have modified their To find buried prey, stingrays use a is in season, and then biting Stingrays spend much of their to suit this behaviour. While they combination of smell and special and shoving the female (if she is time either resting or feeding, can breathe in through their electrical sensors on their snouts smaller, but in many cases, the but many regularly visit cleaning mouth and out through their gills called the , female is larger than the males). stations to get rid of parasites, old to extract , they have which detect weak electrical When mating, the male typically skin and other blemishes. Over developed large respiratory signals given off by animals. The bites the female on the edge of 50 species of are known to openings behind the eyes called rays then use their mouths to her disc, then either twists around provide cleaning services, but spiracles to intake water. These dig into the sand to grab their her, or lies belly-to-belly to insert most stingrays utilise the services spiracles allow them to breathe food, which can be fish, worms, one of his two claspers into her of the widespread common normally for extended periods or molluscs. Many cloaca. The claspers are penis- cleaner (Labroides when buried in the sand, without stingrays feed by day, others only like organs, formed from modified dimidiatus). These tiny wrasse pelvic fins, that deliver sperm into pick over the skin of the stingray, ANDY MURCH the female. Pregnant females are and even enter the mouth and often seen with large swellings in gills. But I have also witnessed a their back. group of Guenther’s butterflyfish Stingrays give birth to live (Chaetodon guentheri) picking young, with litters varying in over the skin of a pink whipray off number from two to six after Brisbane, Australia. feed at night, but some feed at for company, for ease of finding a a gestation period of up to 12 any time, driven more by the , mate, for defence in numbers or months. Young rays are rarely Defense against predators especially if they feed on mudflats. simply because there is abundant seen, because they either hide The main predators of stingrays, food in the area? Some gather in deep water, mangroves, apart from humans, are sharks Mating and reproduction into large aggregations when or rivers. The only and orca. To avoid being eaten, Stingrays are typically solitary breeding, others get together for juvenile stingrays I have seen stingrays hide under a layer of animals, only coming together to no apparent reason at all. are bluespotted ribbontail rays sand or rest in caves, shipwrecks mate, or when feeding. But a few Romance and mating between at night on a reef at Uepi in the or under ledges. But when these species are quite social, forming stingrays is rarely witnessed. Solomon Islands, with the small evasive measures fail, stingrays small groups, called a fever. Little Premating rituals are poorly rays emerging from hiding spots use their tail spines for defence. is known about the dynamics of understood, but generally entail amongst the coral. They use the spine like a dagger, these groups; are they together the male, or several males, bringing the tail over their head

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Pink whiprays at a shark/ray feed at Alimatha Faru in the Maldives (above); The busi- To get close to stingrays, like this blotched fantail ray in the Maldives, it ness end of a blotched fantail ray, its lethal tail spine (right) is best to approach the ray from the side (above).

to either stab or slash at the attacker. stingrays are in fact docile animals the large resting was just sick of being harassed. Another The spine is serrated, covered in - that have a tail spine for defence stingray. lesson learnt—do not intrude on stingray secreting tissue and has two longitudinal only. Very few divers or snorkellers After observing romance. grooves, which enclose venom-secreting have been stabbed by stingrays, them for several At stingray feeds, the tail spine is not an cells. The spine is designed to break off in as they would rather flee than fight; minutes, I realised issue, as the rays do not feel threatened; the attacker and cause infections. but if cornered or grabbed, they that the large it is the mouth you have to worry about. Large stingrays have spines up to will lash out. one was a female Stingrays have small plate-like teeth that 20cm long, but even this does not Over the years, I have and the smaller are designed to assist them grub in the deter some attackers, with some great encountered thousands of one an amorous sand for a variety of prey. However, as they hammerheads (Sphyrna mokarran) stingrays, and I have only ever had male. I then dived need to crush the shells of some prey, their found with dozens of stingray spines two raise their tail at me in a threat down to get some jaws are quite powerful. I have never been stuck in their heads. Stingrays pose little display. Both were smooth stingrays, photos, thinking bitten at a stingray feed in the wild but I threat to divers and snorkellers, with and both encounters are worth I might witness have been bitten in an aquarium when fishers and people wading in shallow looking at. the rays mating. photographing feeding time. water being the most likely ones to get In the first case, my buddy and I were and raised its tail at me, warning me to But as I swam towards the female, she The head diver warned me that the jabbed. If ever jabbed by stingray, even diving off Jervis Bay, south of Sydney, back off. I quickly did, and my buddy suddenly lifted her tail over her head and sharks and fish were not an issue, but if it is minor, seek immediate medical through a series of interconnected and I decided to find another exit from pointed her spine at me, warning me to watch out for the stingrays, and to attention to get the wound properly caves off Point Perpendicular. In one the cave. Lesson learnt—do not corner a to stay away. I took note and headed keep my hands well away from their cleaned to avoid infection. of the caves, we found a large smooth stingray or block its exit. back to the surface, but only minutes mouth. This ended up being easier said stingray resting on the bottom. Having Snorkelling off Sydney, I encountered a later saw her also do the same thing to than done as the stingrays, a gang of Diving with stingrays encountered dozens of these large rays pair of smooth stingrays in a rocky gutter the small male, telling him to back off. blotched fantail rays, were all over us. While the general public have the before, I thought it would not be an issue at Little Bay. One of the rays was huge, This was very interesting behaviour to This made it very hard to get photos, as perception that stingrays are dangerous, swimming over the ray to exit the cave. 2m across, but the other one was only see her warning both me and the horny I had to constantly push and bump the especially after the death of Australian The ray was okay at first, but as I got half this size. I watched them from the male. I am still not sure if she thought stingrays away to avoid being knocked zookeeper and wildlife expert , closer to the exit, the ray felt trapped surface as the small ray swam around I was another male stingray, or if she over. The rays were constantly searching

65 X-RAY MAG : 98 : 2020 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO ecology Stingrays

The Australian whipray is a recently described species that is only found in Australia (above). This one was photographed at Cook Island, Tweed Heads; Broad cowtail stingrays like to hide under a layer of sand, but are always ready to explode off the bottom when a diver gets too close (left).

for our hands, knowing that this was A trick I often use is to angle my has dived extensively around Australia the source of food, and eventually body like I am swimming away from and also throughout Asia, Pacific one latched onto my hand and the ray, but then shuffle sideways Ocean, and Caribbean. BAM! It felt like my fingers had been towards the animal, which is not an He has also produced a number of hit by a hammer! Another lesson easy manoeuvre, especially into a diving-related books, including two learnt—keep fingers away from a current. It is also good to slow your dive guidebooks with Neville Coleman: stingray’s mouth. breathing, and not look directly at Dive Sites of the Great Barrier Reef the ray, instead face away and look and the Coral Sea (New Holland, tips at it from the corner of your . 1996) and Diving Australia (Periplus Getting close to stingrays underwater Some stingrays will allow you to get Editions, 1997). His self-published book, can be tricky, as most species are right up beside them, while others HMAS Brisbane Queensland Coral preyed upon by sharks, so are wary will take off the second they see you. Warship (Nigel Marsh Photography, of large creatures heading towards The less threatening you appear, the 2011), is a photographic exploration them. Stingrays that regularly better the encounter, and generally of one of Australia’s most popular dive encounter divers at popular dive the fewer divers, the better. Stingray sites. Recently, he has produced a sites are often easy to get close to, encounters are the highlight of many series of children’s books on marine- as they are unperturbed by the close diving adventures.  related subjects (A to Z of Sharks & presence of a diver. However, most Rays, Exploring Shipwrecks, stingrays are shy, and take flight Nigel Marsh is an Australian underwater & Crustaceans, Weird & Wacky when a diver approaches. photographer and photojournalist Fish) and a series of dive guides To get close to a stingray, the best whose work has been published in (Underwater Australia, , approach is to come in slowly from numerous magazines, newspapers Coral Wonderland, Diving with Sharks) the side, and not charge in head first and books, both in Australia and for New Holland Publishers. Please visit: with a camera raised like a weapon. overseas. Over the last 37 years, he nigelmarshphotography.com.

66 X-RAY MAG : 98 : 2020 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO

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