Stingray, Cowtail Fish Species in Thailand

Stingray, Cowtail (Pastinachus sephen)

Max width 1.8m.
Max length 3m.
Predatory

The Cow tail stingray is found in brackish estuarine environments in addition to inshore waters (marine environments) down to depths of 60m.

The Cow Tail stingray is a member of the Dasyatidae family of fishes (cartiliginous fishes) which regularily ventures into mangrove estuaries and tidal river systems.

The Cow tail stingray has also been referred to as the Banana tail stingray and the Fan Tail stingray and feeds on various aquatic invertebrates in addition to mollusks and small fish.

The Cow Tail stingray is easily identified by its distinctive flag-like ventral fold which is located on its whip like tail giving the Cow Tail Stingrays tail a fin-like appearance.

The dorsoventrally compressed design of the Cow tail stingray displays a black to grey or brown colouration on its upper side with a soft white underside which houses five pairs of gill slits and a large cavernous mouth lined with 20 rows of hexagonal high crowned teeth.

The dorsal surface (upper side) of the fish is covered with a rough covering of minute placoid scales giving the skin of the Cow Tail Stingray a rough sand paper like texture.

Small eyes are located at the front of the Cow Tail Stingray’s dorsal surface which is located next to the stingray’s spiracle (sixth gill/breathing apparatus).

The flexible whip-like tail of the Cow Tail stingray is armed with a seratated spine or barb which contains poisonous necrotic venom which must be treated with caution at all times.

The Cow tail stingray is widely distributed throughout the tropical waters of the South Pacific including Australia, Japan, Melanesia and Micronesia and other parts of South East Asia including Thailand.

The Cow Tail Stingray can be caught whilst fishing in Thailand at various tidal rivers and estuarine locations including the Ban Pakong River, the Maeklong River, Mekong River and several of Thailand’s other great tidal rivers.

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