They are found in Florida and the Northern Caribbean waters.
They live in sandy areas and around reefs.
They are dark on top (dorsal surface) and white underneath. They have a long tail and 1-2 stinging spines at the base of the tail. They are roughly shaped like a diamond with wide, flapping wings, up to 5 feet wide, for swimming.
They swim along the sandy bottom looking for prey. They sleep in the sand on the bottom of the water with just their eyes showing. If a person accidentally steps on a sleeping stingray, it will flip up its back end and sting with its tail stingers. They can get used to humans being around them and will accept food from people. Hammerhead sharks will prey on them.
They eat small fish, clams, squid, crabs etc.
Females are pregnant for 4-11 months (gestation). They have about 4 babies per litter called pups.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Rajiformes
Suborder: Rajoidei
Family: Dasyatidae/Subfamily: Dasyatinae
Genus: Dasyatis
Species: D. americana
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Amsel, Sheri. "Stingray (Southern)" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. March 26, 2024
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