 Bottom @-@ dwelling in nature , the reticulate whipray is generally encountered over sandy flats near beaches , in lagoons , and around coral reefs , from the intertidal zone to offshore waters 50 m ( 160 ft ) deep or more . In Shark Bay , it frequents intertidal sand flats during the warm season , and shifts to slightly deeper seagrass patches in the cold season . This species is tolerant of low salinities and has been known to enter estuaries and mangrove swamps , though records from fresh water in Southeast Asia are unverified and may represent misidentifications . Its preferred water temperatures are 23 – 26 ° C ( 73 – 79 ° F ) . 
