Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Myliobatiformes (Stingrays) >
Dasyatidae (Stingrays) > Dasyatinae
Etymology: Megatrygon: Name from Greek 'mégas' for great, large, mighty and 'trygon' for stingray; referring to the massive bulk of this gigantic stingray.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; benthopelagic. Deep-water
Indo-Pacific: Mozambique to eastern Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 320 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9840)
Inhabits coastal waters and river mouths (Ref. 45255). Found on the continental shelf. Maximum disc width of about 180 cm. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Litters of a single pup; born at ca. 33 cm WD (Ref. 114953). Caught very rarely by the demersal tangle net fisheries operating in shelf waters. Utilized for its meat, cartilage and probably also its skin (Ref.58048).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures (Ref. 50449). Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).
Last, P.R. and L.J.V. Compagno, 1999. Dasyatididae. Stingrays. p. 1479-1505. In K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem (eds.) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 3. Batoid fishes, chimaeras and bony fishes part 1 (Elopidae to Linophrynidae). FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9840)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: bycatch
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 23.5 - 28.6, mean 27.3 °C (based on 1247 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 1.0000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00468 (0.00195 - 0.01123), b=3.12 (2.92 - 3.32), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.8 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming fecundity<100).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).
