Southern Stingray
Scientific Name: Dasyatis americana
These large rays are native to the tropical and subtropical waters of the southern Atlantic Ocean. They are also found in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, where they are particularly abundant off the coasts of Florida and the Bahamas.
Growing to average lengths of 79 inches and weights of 214lbs at maturity, Southern stingrays are generally dark grey, green or brown in coloration. Their bodies are also vaguely diamond-shaped, which makes them more angular than most species of stingrays.
Fun Facts:
- Historically, native Polynesians, Malaysians, Central Americans and Africans have used stingray spines to make spears, knives and tools.
- Southern stingrays have multiple rows of teeth in their mouths. These teeth are all approximately the same size, except for the somewhat smaller teeth near the outer corners of their mouths.
- These fish feed by slowly scanning the sandy ocean floor for food. They have an extremely strong sense of smell and touch, and this helps them detect buried prey.
- Although they prefer shallow coastal and estuarine habitats, Southern stingrays have been observed offshore at depths of up to 180 feet.
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