The common stingaree, Trygonoptera testacea, is abundant on the continental shelf of eastern Australia but little is known of its ecology and reproduction despite it being a common component of the demersal trawl fishery. Specimens of T. testacea were collected from bycatch to investigate the species' reproductive biology. Males were found to mature at a disc width of 22 cm, while females reached sexual maturity at 26 cm disc width. Of all the T. testacea examined, 53% of males (n=159) and 16% of females (n=62) were sexually mature. Only the left uterus and ovary were found to be functional in female T. testacea. One gravid female carrying two near term embryos was sampled in February 2004. Many other females caught during the same trawl were observed aborting embryos providing a tentative estimate parturition period, which appears to be between the months of February and April. Although further investigation is required to determine if T. testacea populations are threatened by fishing pressures, the current study has provided key demographic parameters vital for the design of a management plan for T. testacea and similar populations.

Abdel-Aziz, S. H., Khalil, A. N. and Abdel-Maguid, S. A. 1993. Reproductive cycle of the common guitarfish, Rhinobatos rhinobatos (Linnaeus, 1758), in Alexandria waters, Mediterranean Sea. Aust J Freshw and Mar Sci 44:507-517
Reproductive cycle of the common guitarfish, Rhinobatos rhinobatos (Linnaeus, 1758), in Alexandria waters, Mediterranean Sea
Aust J Freshw and Mar Sci
, vol. 
44
 (pg. 
507
-
517
)
Babel, J. S. 1967. Reproduction, life history and ecology of the round stingray, Urolophus halleri Cooper. Fish Bull 137:1-108
Reproduction, life history and ecology of the round stingray, Urolophus halleri Cooper
Fish Bull
, vol. 
137
 (pg. 
1
-
108
)
Bridge, N. F., Mackay, D. and Newton, G. 1998. Biology of the ornate angel shark (Squatina tergocellata) from the Great Australian Bight. Mar Freshw Res 49:679-686
Biology of the ornate angel shark (Squatina tergocellata) from the Great Australian Bight
Mar Freshw Res
, vol. 
49
 (pg. 
679
-
686
)
Conrath, C. L. and Musick, J. A. 2002. Reproductive biology of the smooth dogfish, Mustelus canis, in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. Environ Biol Fish 64:367-377
Reproductive biology of the smooth dogfish, Mustelus canis, in the northwest Atlantic Ocean
Environ Biol Fish
, vol. 
64
 (pg. 
367
-
377
)
Edwards, R. R. C. 1980. Aspects of the population dynamics and ecology of the white-spotted stingaree, Urolophus paucimaculatus Dixon, in Port Phililp Bay, Victoria. Aust J Mar Freshw Res 31:459-467
Aspects of the population dynamics and ecology of the white-spotted stingaree, Urolophus paucimaculatus Dixon, in Port Phililp Bay, Victoria
Aust J Mar Freshw Res
, vol. 
31
 (pg. 
459
-
467
)
Graham, K. J., Andrew, N. L. and Hodgson, K. E. 2001. Changes in relative abundance of sharks and rays on Australian South East fishery trawl grounds after twenty years of fishing. Mar Freshw Res 52:549-561
Changes in relative abundance of sharks and rays on Australian South East fishery trawl grounds after twenty years of fishing
Mar Freshw Res
, vol. 
52
 (pg. 
549
-
561
)
Johnson, M. R. and Snelson, F. F. Jr. 1996. Reproductive life history of the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina (Pisces, Dasyatidae), in the freshwater St. Johns River, Florida. Bull Mar Sci 59:74-88
Reproductive life history of the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina (Pisces, Dasyatidae), in the freshwater St. Johns River, Florida
Bull Mar Sci
, vol. 
59
 (pg. 
74
-
88
)
Kyne, P. M. and Bennett, M. B. 2002. Reproductive biology of the eastern shovelnose ray, Aptychotrema rostrata, (Shaw & Nodder, 1794), from Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. Mar Freshw Res 53:583-589
Reproductive biology of the eastern shovelnose ray, Aptychotrema rostrata, (Shaw & Nodder, 1794), from Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia
Mar Freshw Res
, vol. 
53
 (pg. 
583
-
589
)
Kyne, P. M., Courtney, A. J., Campbell, M. J., Chilcott, K. E., Gaddes, S. W., Turnbull, C. T., Van Der Geest, C. C. and Bennett, M. B. 2002. An overview of the elasmobranch by-catch of the Queensland East Coast trawl fishery. NAFO SCR Document No. 02/97. 11 pp. Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation
Last, P. R. and Stevens, J. D. 1994.Sharks and rays of Australia. CSIRO Division of Fisheries, Hobart, Australia
Sharks and rays of Australia
Lenanton, R. C. J., Heald, D. I., Platell, M., Cliff, M. and Shaw, J. 1990. Aspects of the reproductive biology of the gummy shark, Mustelus antarcticus Günther, from waters off the south coast of Western Australia. Aust J Mar Freshw Res 41:807-822
Aspects of the reproductive biology of the gummy shark, Mustelus antarcticus Günther, from waters off the south coast of Western Australia
Aust J Mar Freshw Res
, vol. 
41
 (pg. 
807
-
822
)
Martin, L. K. and Cailliet, G. M. 1988. Aspects of the reproduction of the bat ray, Myliobatis californica, in central California. Copeia 3:754-762
Aspects of the reproduction of the bat ray, Myliobatis californica, in central California
Copeia
, vol. 
3
 (pg. 
754
-
762
)
Natanson, L. J. and Cailliet, G. M. 1986. Reproduction and development of the Pacific angel shark, Squatina californica, off Santa Barbara, California. Copeia 1986(4):987-994
Reproduction and development of the Pacific angel shark, Squatina californica, off Santa Barbara, California
Copeia
, vol. 
1986
 (pg. 
987
-
994
)
Platell, M. E., Potter, I. C. and Clarke, K. R. 1998. Resource partitioning by four species of elasmobranchs (Batoidea: Urolophidae) in coastal waters of temperate Australia. Mar Biol 131:719-734
Resource partitioning by four species of elasmobranchs (Batoidea: Urolophidae) in coastal waters of temperate Australia
Mar Biol
, vol. 
131
 (pg. 
719
-
734
)
Pratt, H. L. 1979. Reproduction in the blue shark, Prionace glauca. Fish Bull 77:445-470
Reproduction in the blue shark, Prionace glauca
Fish Bull
, vol. 
77
 (pg. 
445
-
470
)
Simpfendorfer, C. A. and Milward, N. E. 1993. Utilisation of a tropical bay as a nursery area by sharks of the families Carcharhinidae and Sphyrinidae. Env Biol Fish 37:337-345
Utilisation of a tropical bay as a nursery area by sharks of the families Carcharhinidae and Sphyrinidae
Env Biol Fish
, vol. 
37
 (pg. 
337
-
345
)
Smith, J. W. and Merriner, J. V. 1986. Observations on the reproductive biology of the cownose ray, Rhinoptera bonasus in Chesapeake Bay. Fish Bull 84:871-877
Observations on the reproductive biology of the cownose ray, Rhinoptera bonasus in Chesapeake Bay
Fish Bull
, vol. 
84
 (pg. 
871
-
877
)
Snelson, F. F., Williams-Hooper, S. E. 1981. Notes on the occurrence, distribution and biology of elasmobranch fishes in the Indian River lagoon system, Florida. Estuaries 4:110-120
Notes on the occurrence, distribution and biology of elasmobranch fishes in the Indian River lagoon system, Florida
Estuaries
, vol. 
4
 (pg. 
110
-
120
)
Snelson, F. F., Williams-Hooper, S. E. and Schmid, T. H. 1988. Reproduction and ecology of the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina, in Florida coastal lagoons. Copeia 1988:729-739
Reproduction and ecology of the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina, in Florida coastal lagoons
Copeia
, vol. 
1988
 (pg. 
729
-
739
)
Watson, G. and Smale, M. J. 1998. Reproductive biology of shortnose spiny dogfish, Squalus megalops, from the Agulhas Bank, South Africa. Mar Freshw Res 49:695-703
Reproductive biology of shortnose spiny dogfish, Squalus megalops, from the Agulhas Bank, South Africa
Mar Freshw Res
, vol. 
49
 (pg. 
695
-
703
)
White, W. T., Platell, M. E. and Potter, I. C. 2001. Relationship between reproductive biology and age composition and growth in Urolophus lobatus (Batoidea: Urolophidae). Mar Biol 138:135-147
Relationship between reproductive biology and age composition and growth in Urolophus lobatus (Batoidea: Urolophidae)
Mar Biol
, vol. 
138
 (pg. 
135
-
147
)
White, W. T., Hall, N. G. and Potter, I. C. (2002. Reproductive biology and growth during pre- and postnatal life of Trygonoptera personata and T. mucosa (Batoidea: Urolophidae). Mar Biol 140:699-712
Reproductive biology and growth during pre- and postnatal life of Trygonoptera personata and T. mucosa (Batoidea: Urolophidae)
Mar Biol
, vol. 
140
 (pg. 
699
-
712
)
This content is only available as a PDF.