Stingrays

Common family name

Stingrays

Others in family

Whiptail, Mangrove whipray, Marbled whipray, Honeycomb, Bluespotted,
Bluespotted ribbontail, Blotched

Scientific name

Dasyatidae

Size

Up to 4m wingspan

Identification

Named after the stinger on their tails. Flat, disk-shaped body with triangular wings. Head not distinguishable from body. Wider than it is long. Long tail.

General Information

Dasyatidae family consists of 9 genera and 70 species. Demersal – living on the bottom. Found in marine and fresh water. Breathe by drawing water from small hole next to eyes and expelling it through the gills below. Some have flat, plate-like teeth while others have none. Suck their prey into their mouths. Tail used in defense only. Ovoviviparous. Young are born alive.

Feeding

Feed primarily on molluscs, crustaceans and small fish. Bury themselves in the sand to ambush prey. Use electro receptors to locate prey.

Distribution

Occurs in all temperate and tropical oceans of the world.

Common species

Blue-spotted ribbontail ray - Taeniura lymma
Blotched stingray - Taeniura meyeni
Honeycomb stingray - Himantura uarnak