Ray
Smalleye stingray
Megatrygon microps
A rare, roving stingray and a Tofo specialty. Individuals are identifiable by unique white spot patterns; the Marine Megafauna Foundation's photo-ID study identified about 70 individuals over 15 years, and tracked one 400km round trip between Tofo and the Bazaruto Archipelago — the longest recorded movement for a dasyatid ray.
- Max size
- Up to ~2.2m (220cm) disc width — the world's largest marine stingray
- Habitat
- Actively swimming over coastal reefs, typically 15-25m; also recorded to over 200m and offshore
Best places to dive with Smalleye stingray
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
One of the few places on earth where divers reliably (if infrequently) meet this species. Photo-ID work found peak encounters May-October, with the most sightings per dive in July. A dive site in Praia do Tofo bay acts as a year-round refuge for stingrays.
Sources & last checked
Checked July 2026
This is a researched draft, not yet human-verified. The seasonality and logistics are drawn from the sources below — confirm specifics (permits, fees, closures) with an operator before you book.
- Spotting the small eyes: photo-ID of smalleye stingrays in southern Mozambique — PeerJ / PMC
- Mozambique Smalleye Stingray Research Project — Marine Megafauna Foundation
Note on the data: IUCN listing is contested — historically Data Deficient, reassessed Endangered (2021); either way sightings are genuinely uncommon and never guaranteed.