Chesterfield Island Stingaree

The pectoral fin disc of the Chesterfield Island stingaree is diamond-shaped and 109–122% as wide as long, with broadly rounded outer corners and gently convex leading margins. The snout is fleshy and forms an obtuse angle, with the tip slightly protruding. The eyes are medium-sized and somewhat closely spaced, and immediately followed by teardrop-shaped spiracles. There is a narrow, skirt-shaped curtain of skin between the nostrils, with a deeply fringed posterior margin and the posterior corners drawn out into lobes. The mouth is modestly sized and contains 7–8 papillae (nipple-like structures) on the floor, arranged in a "W"; there is also a patch of small papillae on the lower jaw. There are 28–33 upper tooth rows and 27–31 lower tooth rows. The five pairs of gill slits are short. The pelvic fins are small and rounded; males have slender, pointed claspers. The tail is somewhat flattened and measures 77–84% as long as the disc. There is a single dorsally placed, serrated stinging spine around halfway along the tail, and no dorsal fin or lateral skin folds. The tail terminates in a long, low, leaf-shaped caudal fin. The skin is entirely devoid of dermal denticles. This species is plain yellowish brown above with a dark caudal fin margin, which is more obvious in juveniles. The underside is white to cream, darkening slightly at the fin margins. …

The range of the Chesterfield Island stingaree is limited to the Chesterfield Islands, northwest of New Caledonia. This bottom-dwelling ray inhabits the continental slope over a depth range of 203–330 m (666–1,083 ft).

Little is known of the natural history of the Chesterfield Island stingaree. It is presumably aplacental viviparous with a small litter size, as in other members of its family. Newborns measure around 13 cm (5.1 in) long and males reach sexual maturity at under 29 cm (11 in) long.