Animal Profiles
Fish

Stingray

Myliobatiformes

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Stingrays are flattened cartilaginous fishes with broad pectoral fins. This account follows the southern stingray, which searches shallow Atlantic seabeds for animals hidden in sediment.

Southern stingray (Hypanus americanus) with another fish in coastal water.

Southern stingray (Hypanus americanus) with another fish in coastal water.

Michelle Hedstrom from Arvada · CC BY

At a glance

Location
Hypanus americanus, called Dasyatis americana in the cited source, is the representative here. It inhabits western Atlantic coastal waters, especially Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico shallows with seagrass, algae or soft bottoms.
Habitat
Coast, Coral reef
Diet
Carnivore
Food
Crustaceans, worms and small fishes are important prey.

Classification

Common name
Stingray
Browse group
Fish
Scientific name or taxon
Myliobatiformes
Taxon rank
order
Order
Myliobatiformes
Source classification
Chondrichthyes

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • Its disc is diamond-shaped.
  • It uncovers buried prey.
  • Females generally grow larger.

Habitat and range

Hypanus americanus, called Dasyatis americana in the cited source, is the representative here. It inhabits western Atlantic coastal waters, especially Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico shallows with seagrass, algae or soft bottoms.

Appearance and adaptations

The body and pectoral fins form a diamond-shaped disc. A long slender tail extends behind it. Females generally reach larger sizes than males.

Diet and behaviour

Crustaceans, worms and small fishes are important prey. The ray disturbs sediment with fin movements and water jets to uncover buried food. Feeding occurs through the day but is often more active at night.

Sources

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