Fin's Fish Guide
The Blackspotted whipray (Maculabatis toshi) is a saltwater fish of the family Dasyatidae that grows up to 86 cm.
Description
The Blackspotted whipray is a whipray (Dasyatidae) from coastal waters of coastal waters of the Indo-West Pacific, off Australia. The species grows to about 50 cm wide and has a flattened, diamond-shaped, brown-grey body with a long, thin whip tail bearing one or more venomous spines. As a bottom-dweller it often lies half-buried on sand and mud bottoms and searches for crustaceans, molluscs and small fish. The tail spine can give an extremely painful sting wound.
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the Blackspotted whipray?
The Blackspotted whipray has an irregular in shape body and is mainly brown. Bears venomous spines or tissue; handle with great care.
Where does the Blackspotted whipray live?
The Blackspotted whipray lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Oceania: Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
How big does the Blackspotted whipray get?
The Blackspotted whipray grows to a maximum of about 86 cm.
Is the Blackspotted whipray dangerous to humans?
The Blackspotted whipray is venomous — handle spines with care and seek medical help after a sting if needed. For a sting from the tail spine: rinse the wound with seawater, apply pressure to limit bleeding and immerse the part for 30-90 minutes in water as hot as can be tolerated (about 45 C). The wound is often deep and may contain spine fragments; seek medical care, have the wound cleaned and check tetanus status.
Is the Blackspotted whipray edible?
Yes, the Blackspotted whipray is commonly eaten.
More photos
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All data
Identification
Appearance
Habitat & distribution
Behaviour & biology
For anglers
Safety
Status & sources
Same genus Maculabatis
More from the family Dasyatidae
Want the complete picture on the Blackspotted whipray?
Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Blackspotted whipray is one of 12,519 species in the app.