Family Urolophidae
Stingrays and Stingarees
Taxonomy
Order Myliobatiformes
Family Urolophidae
Genus Urobatis
Urolophus
Urotrygon
Trygonoptera
25-41 species in 2, 3, or 4 genera
Morphology
round disc, rostrum, and pectoral fins
Morphology
short tail with rounded caudal fin, no dorsal fins
venomous spine ½ way down tail
Morphology
25cm DL (Urotrygon
microphthalmum)
66m DL (Urobatis jamaicensis)
Morphology
coloration varies, even within a species
Morphology
coloration varies, even within a species
Morphology
mouth with papillae on floor
dentition unlike other rays
Habitat and Distribution
coastal subtropical and tropical water
E. Indian, E. and W. Pacific, W. Atlantic
U. halleri
U. jamaicensis
Habitat and Distribution
benthic- bury in sand
usually less than 15-20m deep
may segregate by sex
Reproduction
case study: Urobatis jamaicensis
~7 pups/litter
litter size increases with maternal size only during
spring/summer cycle
Reproduction
mature at ~15-16cm
aplacental viviparous with histotroph nutirition
gestation 5-6 months
females pregnant throughout the year
bi-annual reproducers
parturition in June-September and November-January
Prey/Feeding Habits
feed on benthic invertebrates
some species use pectoral fins to
get inverts out of substrate
Human Importance
may sting the feet of beachgoers
Urolophus halleri in Seal Beach, CA
“stingray shuffle”
economic importance- aquariums
little importance to fisheries
Conservation Status
most species -data deficient or least concern on Redlist
3 species vulnerable
Urolophus orarius- endangered (Australia)
Urolophus javanicus- critically endangered (Java)
Research
reproductive biology- may sort out taxonomy
U. halleri in Seal Beach (Chris Lowe at CSULB)
spine regeneration, abundance, distribution,
and thermal preferences
Research
U. jamaicensis sensory biology comparative studies
FAU sharklab
prey-related olfactory sensitivity
visual fields/binocular vision, color vision
Research
U. jamaicensis locomotion (“punting”) in FAU sharklab
Literature Cited
Bester, C. 2006. Round Stingray. Florida Museum Natural History, Icthyology Department.
University of Florida. < http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/>. Downloaded on 22 November 2007.
Fahy, D.P. and R.E. Spieler. 2007. Preliminary observations on the reproductive cycle and uterine
fecundity of the yellow stingray, Urobatis jamaicensis (Elasmobranchii: Myliobatiformes:
Urolophidae) in southeast Florida, U.S.A. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Suppl 14: 131-139.
Hoisington IV, G. and C.G. Lowe. 2005. Abundance and distribution of the round stingray, Urobatis
halleri, near a heated effluent outfall. Marine Environmental Research 60: 437-453.
IUCN 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on
22 November 2007.
Piercy, A. 2006. Yellow Stingray. Florida Museum Natural History, Icthyology Department. University of
Florida. < http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/>. Downloaded on 22 November 2007.