The 30cm creature is part of the maskray family. It is much smaller than most of the other 118 ray species at Ningaloo.
The discovery was made by CSIRO scientists during a series of dive surveys which documented 47 species of sharks and rays.
Environment Minister Donna Faragher said the new find highlights the importance of the Ningaloo Marine Park, which was recently nominated for World Hertiage listing.
“It is an area of outstanding beauty, biological richness and international geological significance and we need to ensure it is protected and conserved,” Ms Faragher said.
CSIRO scientist Will White said since finding the rays at Ningaloo they have also been sighted at Shark Bay.
“The very specific habitat occupied by this ray means that careful monitoring and management is required. They also live close to the shore, so people may encounter the creature close-up,” Mr White said.
DEC marine scientist Kelly Waples said initial results from these surveys indicate that the marine park’s shark and ray populations are healthy and benefiting from zoning designed to protect representative populations.
“Satellite tags have also been used to track large predatory tiger and hammerhead sharks to find out whether they are residents or visitors to the marine park,” she said.
New ray shines on WA reef
Samuel Cardwell AAP Sydney Morning Herald 24 Feb 10;
Australian scientists have discovered a new species of stingray in the shallow waters off Western Australia.
The ray, whose scientific name is yet to be released, is commonly named the Ningaloo Mask Ray after the marine park in which it was discovered and is a new species in the genus Neotrygon.
Growing to a maximum of 30 centimetres width, the ray is spotted and orangy red in colour, helping it blend in with the dirty sand at the shallow depths where it lives.
CSIRO scientist Dr William White, a member of the team that discovered the new ray, says its adaption to the shallows may be why it has eluded sightings until now.
"One of the interesting things about this species is we have only seen it down to about three meters in depth," he said.
"Other rays that live deeper tend to be caught in trawling nets but because this one occurs only in the shallows it has escaped the fisherman and we haven't seen it before."
Science Minister Kim Carr praised the work of the team who discovered the new ray.
"I would like to congratulate all the scientists and researchers involved in the discovery of the new stingray species," Senator Carr said in a statement.
"Identifying and monitoring the variety of marine animals which inhabit our waters is the first step in ensuring that these creatures continue to flourish in Australia's delicate ocean ecosystems."
The CSIRO's work in discovering the ray was conducted as part of the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI), a collaboration between federal, state, industry and academic institutions to probe the secrets of WA's large coastline.
The rays' home, The Ningaloo Marine Park, is located approximately 1200km north of Perth and occupies an area of 243,600 hectares.
The park is home to Ningaloo Reef which at over 250km long is the longest fringing reef in Australia.
Over the past few years over fifty new species have been discovered there as part of WAMSI's Ningaloo deeper water biodiversity project.
New stingray found at Ningaloo
Sydney Morning Herald 24 Feb 10;
A new species of stingray has been found at Ningaloo Marine Park.
WA environment minister Donna Faragher said the ray was part of the maskray family, with a maximum wingspan of 30cm - much smaller than most rays found at Ningaloo.
CSIRO scientist Will White said the discovery of the ray (Neotrygon sp.) highlighted there was still much to learn about the sharks and rays that inhabit the World Heritage-nominated area along the Ningaloo coast.
"Since the find at Ningaloo, we have been able to establish that this species also exists 400km further south in Shark Bay," Dr White said.
"The very specific habitat occupied by this ray means that careful monitoring and management is required.
"They also live close to the shore, so people may encounter the creature close-up."