This plant species is described as perennial tree with fan-shaped leaves forming clumps several meters across that generally occurs in gravelled areas along low wadi banks (Jongbloed et al. 2003). According to G.R. Feulner (in lit, MEW 2010), the species is normally found at places where wadi broaden and silt accumulates.

This species is very common in shallow and intertidal waters over soft substrates mostly to 30 m, but occasionally 40 m (K.V. Akhilesh pers. comm. 05/02/2017). It is a very small species, only growing to 32 cm disc width (DW). Data from the H. imbricata form show that males mature about 18 cm DW and females by at least 23 cm DW (Moore et al. 2012). It is born at 7-10 cm DW (Last et al. 2016). No data on litter size is available, but given the small size, it is likely to be low. Similarly, no data on frequency of breeding or on ageing are available. Generation length is estimated from the similar-sized Speckled Maskray (Neotrygon picta) from Australia that matures at 3-4 years and reaches a maximum age of 18 years, yielding a generation length of ~11 years (Jacobsen and Bennett 2010).

The Cowtail Ray is benthic in coastal habitats and occurs over soft substrates, often near coral reefs (Last et al. 2016) to depths of 60 m. Maximum size and biology is poorly known due to confusion amongst Pastinachus spp. This species reaches at least 89 cm disc width (Last et al. 2016). Generation length is estimated at 20 years based on age data from Maculabatis astra (Jacobsen 2007).

The Broad Cowtail Ray is benthic in coastal habitats. Maximum size and biology is poorly known due to confusion amongst other cowtail rays. Reaches ~200 cm disc width (Last et al. 2016). Generation length is estimated at 20 years based on age data from Maculabatis astra (Jacobsen 2007).

This species is mainly coastal. It favours mangrove habitats, but is also found along rocky and sandy coasts, coral reefs, harbours, breakwaters and jetties (Richardson 1990, Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It is occasionally found at inland wetlands, including water-filled rubbish dumps, sewage treatment plants and gravel pits (Richardson 1990). The species forages mainly in stands of Black Mangroves Avicennia marina. In Arabia, it has only been observed to feed on fish, but elsewhere it also takes crabs, shrimps and other invertebrates (Jennings 2010). The breeding period lasts over spring and summer; the species may be double-brooded. Nests are loose structures of sticks and algae, which are hidden in bushes or rock crevices. The clutch size is not known; evidence from the Red Sea suggest that clutches contain four eggs (Jennings 2010).

This species is especially common on desert plains, but is generally found in a wide variety of flat habitats, including sandy and gravel desert, semi-desert and coastal dunes (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). Even though it is a shy species, it is frequently found in proximity to humans, e.g. in the outskirts of towns, in farmland and along the beach (Jennings 2010). The species is able to tolerate the hot and arid conditions of the sandy desert, and shows a variety of behavioural adaptations to combat the extreme heat, like standing in the shade, hiding in the holes of Spiny-tailed Lizards Uromastyx microlepis, or lying on shaded, damp ground (Jennings 2010). It feeds on invertebrates, which it obtains by digging in soft soil, chasing and aerial pursuits, or by searching in rock crevices. Occasionally, it takes small invertebrates like lizards (Jennings 2010). The species is territorial throughout the year. The breeding season lasts from February to July or even October, depending on the amount of rainfall (de Juana and Suárez 2019). The courtship display of the males include frequent calls with rising and falling notes, which consist of trilled whistles and clicks (S. Alam (Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019). Males also perform distraction displays when the nest or chicks are threatened (S. Alam (Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019). The nest consists of a cup dug into the ground, often in open conditions and exposed to the sun. Nests observed in the Dubai desert were located in bushes of Zygophyllum hamiense and made of soft twigs and lined with fine grass and feathers (S. Alam (Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019). Clutches contain two eggs; both sexes take turns in incubating and rearing the young (S. Alam (Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019)

This species inhabits sparsely wooded areas and broken country, like woodland, areas of scattered trees, riparian forests, thorn scrubs and thickets, cuttings, parks and gardens (Richardson 1990, Aspinall and Porter 2011). There is no information available about its diet in the UAE; elsewhere it feeds mainly on small arthropods, especially insects and their larvae and eggs, but also takes various berries, fruits and seeds (Aymí and Gargallo 2015). The species is migratory; it breeds in south-western Eurasia and winters from north-east Africa to Arabia and southern Iran (Snow and Perrins 1998).

The main habitat of this species are wadis and acacia scrub (Jennings 2010). It is also frequently found in well-vegetated parks, gardens and palm groves (Aspinall and Porter 2011). It feeds mostly on fruit, as well as on seeds and invertebrates and less frequently on nectar, leaves and flowers (Fishpool and Tobias 2005, Jennings 2010). Occasionally, it takes human food scraps and visits bird tables (Jennings 2010). Pairs establish a permanent bond. The breeding season can last from January to September, but peaks between March and April. There are hints that the species is double-brooded, but confirmation is still lacking (Jennings 2010). Clutches usually consist of less than three eggs, although occasionally four or five have been observed (Jennings 2010). The nest is a cup or small basket of thin twigs, grass stems, moss and leaves with the base constructed of broad leaves (sometimes with newspaper, strips of plastic or cotton wool) and the structure is held together by cobwebs and cotton threads, lined after a fashion with hair, shredded bark and rootlets, apparently sometimes unlined (Fishpool and Tobias 2005, Jennings 2010). It is placed in a bush or tree at least 2 m above ground (Jennings 2010).

The species occurs in parks and gardens, cultivations and date groves, as well as semi-desert and scrubland with good vegetation cover (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). During migration, the species also occupies very arid places, but it generally avoids dry habitat during the breeding season, when it favours shaded, leafy areas with water readily available (Jennings 2010). It forages on the ground in leaf litter and under dense vegetation, where it takes mostly invertebrates and, especially during migration, also berries of Salvadora persica trees (Jennings 2010). The breeding season lasts from late spring to mid-summer (Jennings 2010). The nest is a loose flat cup of dry grass stems, twigs and bark, lined with fine fibres, hair and feathers. It is built in dense vegetation, often on the trunk of a date palm, on branches, in vines or in tree holes (Jennings 2010). It is possible that the species is double- or even triple-brooded (Jennings 2010).

This species occurs in wetlands like freshwater and brackish marshes, sewage treatment plants and irrigated grassland (Richardson 1990, Aspinall and Porter 2011). There is no information available about the species's diet in the UAE; elsewhere the diet varies seasonally depending on availability, and the species takes insects, worms, leeches, molluscs, crustaceans and occasionally fish, frogs, tadpoles, lizards, small snakes and nestling birds (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Hancock et al. 1992). It feeds in very shallow water in small flocks of up to 30 individuals (Brown et al. 1982, del Hoyo et al. 1992, Hancock et al. 1992). The species is migratory and breeds in mixed-species colonies throughout southern-central Eurasia (del Hoyo et al. 1992).