Southern stingray

What it is

This whiptail stingray has a flat, diamond-shaped body that is more angular than many relatives. Adults display olive brown or green tops with white undersides, while juveniles are dark grey. Wing-like pectoral fins propel it across the ocean floor. A long, serrated spine sits at the base of its slender tail. This spine carries venomous mucus for self-defence. Though painful to humans, the sting is not fatal. Eyes and spiracles sit on top of the head, allowing breathing while buried in sediment.

Where it lives

It inhabits tropical and subtropical waters of the Western Atlantic. The range extends from New Jersey down to southern Brazil. These rays prefer the sea bed in coastal areas. They are often found in shallow systems that serve as nursery grounds. Juveniles have been observed on rock reef surfaces at depths between ten and twenty metres. Specific locations include the Gulf of Mexico and islands such as Grand Cayman.

How it lives

Southern stingrays are nocturnal hunters. They spray water or flap fins to uncover prey hidden in the substrate. Their diet includes small fish, worms, crustaceans, and bivalves. They move with a wave-like motion that aids in escape and foraging. Often solitary or in pairs, they may group for mating or protection. Great hammerhead sharks are known predators. In the Gulf of Mexico, birds follow these rays to eat fish exposed by their digging.

Breeding and life cycle

Females give live birth after fertilised eggs develop inside the body. Embryos first feed from a yolk sac, then from uterine milk. Gestation lasts seven to eight months in the wild. Females reproduce annually, though captive ones may breed twice a year. Litters contain two to ten young. Maturity occurs around five years for females and three for males. Mating involves males biting female fins. Pheromones likely signal readiness to mate after birth.

Fish and people

Tourists hand-feed these rays in the Caribbean, notably at Stingray City. The animals are often docile and allow touching. Concerns exist about how this interaction affects their natural behaviour. They appear in public aquariums and touch pools. Keeping them privately requires massive tanks, as they eat other tank inhabitants. They are hardy but need significant space. Reproduction has been recorded in large public facilities.

Questions people ask about Southern stingray

Good reading and sources

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