Bathytoshia brevicaudata
In 3 days ~90% in a week >90%
The short-tail stingray or smooth stingray (Bathytoshia brevicaudata) is a common species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae. It occurs off southern Africa, typically offshore at a depth of 180–480 m (590–1,570 ft), and off southern Australia and New Zealand, from the intertidal zone to a depth of 156 m (512 ft). It is mostly bottom-dwelling in nature and can be found across a range of habitats from estuaries to reefs, but also frequently will swim into open water. One of the largest stingrays in the world, this heavy-bodied species can grow upwards of 2.1 m (6.9 ft) across and 350 kg (770 lb) in weight. Its plain-colored, diamond-shaped pectoral fin disc is characterized by a lack of dermal denticles (scales) even in adults, and white pores beside the head on either side. The body can have colors as well as dark grey or black with rows of white spots along each wing. Its tail is usually shorter than the disc and thick at the base. It is armed with large tubercles and a midline row of large thorns in front of the stinging spine which has the dorsal and ventral fin folds behind.
The diet of the short-tail stingray consists of invertebrates and bony fishes, including burrowing and midwater species. It tends to remain within a relatively limited area throughout the year, preferring deeper waters during the winter, and is not known to perform long migrations. Large aggregations of rays form seasonally at certain locations, such as in the summer at the Poor Knight Islands off New Zealand. Both birthing and mating have been documented within the aggregations at Poor Knights. This species is aplacental viviparous, with the developing embryos sustained by histotroph ("uterine milk") produced by the mother. The litter size is typically 6 –10, but litter sizes of up to fifteen are not unheard of.
The short-tail stingray is not aggressive, but is capable of inflicting a lethal wound with its long, venomous sting. It is often caught incidentally by commercial and recreational fisheries throughout its range, usually surviving to be released. Because its population does not appear threatened by human activity, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists it under least concern. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rottnest Island | 🇦🇺 Australia |
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lisbon Oceanarium | 🇵🇹 Portugal | |
| 2 | Oceanarium in Saint Petersburg | 🇷🇺 Russia | |
| 3 | Greensboro Science Center | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Sea World | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise | 🇯🇵 Japan | |
| 6 | Kamogawa Sea World | 🇯🇵 Japan | |
| 7 | Notojima Aquarium | 🇯🇵 Japan | |
| 8 | Georgia Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 10 | Kyoto Aquarium | 🇯🇵 Japan | |
| 11 | Marine World Uminonakamichi | 🇯🇵 Japan | |
| 12 | Melbourne Aquarium | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 13 | Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan | 🇯🇵 Japan | |
| 14 | Sea Life Sydney Aquarium | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 15 | Two Oceans Aquarium | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 16 | Xpark | 🇹🇼 Taiwan | |
| 17 | Aquarium of Western Australia | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 18 | Wild Life Sydney | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 19 | National Aquarium of New Zealand | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 20 | 箱根園水族館 | 🇯🇵 Japan |
Likely
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Short-tail Stingray sighting in Rottnest Island on a given day, based on 13 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. Over three days the chance rises to about 90%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Short-tail Stingray sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Only Rottnest Island, in our data
Rottnest Island is the only park on Wallace's Line with enough records to rate Short-tail Stingray sightings: about 50% of wildlife watchers there report one on a given day.
Same order: Myliobatiformes
The closest relatives of the Short-tail Stingray that you can see in Rottnest Island (order Myliobatiformes, Stingrays) are Southern Eagle Ray (about 60%) and Striped Stingaree (about 60%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Short-tail Stingray is recorded against all the sharks and rays logged in Rottnest Island (13 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
