Pink Whipray

Pateobatis fai

The pink whipray (Pateobatis fai) is a large stingray found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific. Adults reach a disc width of up to 1.8 meters and display a smooth, uniformly greyish to pinkish-brown dorsal surface with a pale underside and an extremely long, thin tail bearing a single venomous spine. The disc is roughly diamond-shaped with rounded wingtips. They inhabit sandy areas adjacent to coral reefs, lagoon floors, and channels at depths of 1-200 meters, though most commonly encountered between 5-40 meters. They are benthic feeders, using electroreception and their disc to excavate invertebrate prey from the sand. They are often encountered resting on sandy patches between coral heads, where their pale coloring blends with the substrate. Their large size, elegant form, and graceful swimming motion make them impressive encounters on tropical dives, particularly in the Maldives and French Polynesia where they are regularly seen.