

Southern stingrays

Dasyatis americana

Range: Southern stingrays can be found in tropical and subtropical waters such as the southern Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Habitat: These stingrays live in shallow ocean waters with sandy bottoms.

Size: Females grow up to six feet wide while males only grow up to two and a half feet wide.

Diet: Stingrays eat mainly smaller creatures such as bivalves, worms, shrimp and crabs.

Conservation Connection: Stingrays are sometimes hunted for their leather or as a source of protein. There are currently no restrictions to hunting stingrays but a surge in the demand for their meat or leather could result in a major threat to their populations.

Did you know? Polyandry (females with multiple male mates) is quite common with stingrays.

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