STINGRAYS
Stingrays are cartilaginous fish, related to skates and sharks. There are over 200 species of rays worldwide,
however only 70 of those species are classified as stingrays. Stingrays are named for their
venomous barb along their tail, which is used for defense.
Description: Brownish color; flattened disc shaped pectoral fins; pointed
snout; eyes and spiracles are raised on the head; thick tail, with barb located mid-way down tail.
Size: Up to 24 inch disc width
Atlantic Stingray
Dasyatis sabina
Habitat / Distribution: Benthic species, occurring in the warm coastal and
estuarine waters of the western North Atlantic from the Chesapeake Bay
through the Gulf of Mexico.
Diet: Benthic invertebrates
Description: Varied coloration from gray to brown; flattened angular pectoral fins; elevated head with eyes and spiracles on top; long tail with barb
located mid-way down tail.
Size: Up to 79 inch disc width
Habitat / Distribution: Benthic species, occurring in the tropical and subtropical waters of the southern Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.
Southern Stingray
Dasyatis americana
Diet: Benthic invertebrates, such as crustaceans and mollusks
Description: Brownish color; batoid shaped ray with bilobed subrostral
fins; eyes and spirals on the side of it’s broad head; barb is located at the
base of the body, along the tail.
Size: Up to 84 inch disc width
Habitat / Distribution: Migratory pelagic species, occurring in eastern Atlantic and also the western Atlantic from New England, through the Gulf
of Mexico, down to Brazil.
Cownose Ray
Rhinoptera bonasus
Diet: Primarily bivalve mollusks, but also other invertebrates and bony
Stingray Facts:
 The barb of the stingray is serrated and contains a protein based venom that causes the “sting”. It
is used exclusively for defense and the striking action is an involuntary response rather than a conscious action.
 The gestation period of stingrays can vary from 3-11 months. But some warm water species, such as
the Atlantic ray, can experience reduced gestations periods of up to 2 weeks.
 Stingrays are data-deficient species, which means the information on them is not sufficient for the
proper
assessment of conservation status to be made.
 Threats to stingrays include coastal alterations, pollution, waste water runoff, harvest for food and
shagreen, which is made from the skin and used in decorating and other products.
Resources:
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department