Jenkins' Whipray
Pateobatis jenkinsii
The Jenkins' whipray (Pateobatis jenkinsii) is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae, with a wide distribution in the Indo-Pacific region from South Africa to the Malay Archipelago to northern Australia. This large species grows to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) across and has a broad, diamond-shaped pectoral fin disc and a whip-like tail without fin folds. It has a band of heart-shaped dermal denticles running from between the eyes to the tail on its upper surface, along with a characteristic row of large spear-like thorns along the midline. It is uniform yellowish brown above, becoming grayish on the tail past the stinging spine, and white below; there is apparently a spotted color variant that had previously been described as a different species, the dragon stingray (H. draco). Preying mainly on small bony fishes and crustaceans, the Jenkins' whipray is commonly found in inshore, sandy or silty habitats shallower than 50 m (160 ft). It is aplacental viviparous, with the females nourishing their developing young with histotroph ("uterine milk"). Wikipedia →
30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Jenkins' Whipray sighting in Ningaloo Marine Park, based on 18 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
📅 Monthly Probability
🕐 When They’re Spotted
Sightings of Jenkins' Whipray are recorded here, but fewer than 5 of them carry a time of day in GBIF — sighting probability uses whole days, so it is unaffected. The hourly pattern needs timestamps we don't have yet.
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ningaloo Marine Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Jenkins' Whipray in Ningaloo Marine Park?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Jenkins' Whipray sighting in Ningaloo Marine Park, based on 18 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Jenkins' Whipray in Ningaloo Marine Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Jenkins' Whipray in Ningaloo Marine Park in our monthly data.