Pelagic stingray

What it is

The pelagic stingray is the sole member of its genus and the only stingray that lives primarily in the open ocean. It has a thick, wedge-shaped disc that is wider than it is long, with a short snout and minute eyes. Its colour ranges from dark purple to blue-green on top, with a lighter underside. A whip-like tail extends up to twice the length of the body and carries a long, serrated spine. When handled, the animal secretes a thick black mucus.

Where it lives

This species is found in tropical and warm-temperate waters across the globe, between latitudes 52°N and 50°S. It inhabits the Atlantic, Pacific, and parts of the Indian Ocean, preferring temperatures above 19 °C. The ray migrates seasonally, moving towards higher latitudes and continental shelves in summer and returning to equatorial waters in winter. It typically stays in surface waters down to 100 metres but has been recorded deeper near underwater ridges.

How it lives

Unlike bottom-dwelling relatives, this ray swims by flapping its pectoral fins like wings. It is an active hunter that uses vision more than electroreception to find prey. Its diet includes squid, krill, small fish, and jellyfish. It often follows migrating schools of fish or spawning squid aggregations. Predators include oceanic whitetip sharks, great white sharks, and toothed whales. The ray may segregate by sex, with males occupying deeper water than females.

Breeding and life cycle

Females give birth to live young after a very short gestation of two to four months. Embryos are nourished first by yolk and later by uterine milk. Females can store sperm for over a year and may produce two litters annually, each containing four to thirteen pups. Births usually occur in warm equatorial waters during winter, except in the Mediterranean where they happen in summer. Newborns measure 15 to 25 cm across and grow rapidly when food is plentiful.

Fish and people

Fishermen rarely target this species, but it is frequently caught as bycatch in pelagic fisheries. It has little economic value and is often discarded, usually dying in the process. The venomous tail spine can inflict severe or fatal wounds, so handlers must exercise extreme caution. Despite high mortality from fishing gear, population numbers appear to be stable or increasing, possibly due to the removal of shark predators.

Status and threats

The International Union for Conservation of Nature assesses the pelagic stingray as Least Concern. This status reflects its wide global distribution, high reproductive rate, and apparent population stability. Although it suffers significant mortality as bycatch, the reduction of its natural predators like sharks may have benefited its numbers. No specific conservation measures are currently in place for this species.

Questions people ask about Pelagic stingray

Good reading and sources

• Pelagic stingray on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data