Summary ³

The Atlantic stingray (Dasyatis sabina) is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae, common along the Atlantic coast of North America from Chesapeake Bay to Mexico, including brackish and freshwater habitats. It may be distinguished from other stingrays in the area by its relatively elongated snout. This species is of no commercial importance.

Description ⁴

: The Atlantic Stingray, Dasyatis sabina, is a small ray distributed throughout shallow water habitats in the southeastern United States. Body color on the dorsal surface ranges from a medium brown to dark brown, and is generally uniform. The ventral surface is white. Rays are dorsoventrally flattened, with pectoral fins expanded toward, and fusing with the head. Gill openings are ventral in all rays. The caudal and dorsal fins are reduced or absent in some species.There are 9 genera in the Dasyatidae family, most of which posses a hardened spine or barb near the base of the tail. Of the spine-bearing species, including Dasyatis sabina, many have venom-secreting cells which may be either glandular or scattered throughout the integumentary sheath surrounding the spine (Bond 1996; Amesbury and Snelson 1997).

Size ⁵

Length: 20 cm

Diagnostic description ⁶

Prominent triangular snout. Broadly rounded outer corners of disc. Upper surface brown or yellowish brown, paler toward margins of disc. Lower surface white (Ref. 6902). Few scapular spines. Middorsal row of spines present, but few on tail beyond pelvic fins (Ref. 7251).

Look alikes ⁷

Can be confused with the sympatric species Dasyatis sayi and Dasyatis americana.

Habitat ⁸

Habitat Type: Freshwater

Comments: Shallow coastal waters. Moves to near-shore waters in winter. Only North American stingray commonly entering fresh water, which it does most commonly in Florida (e.g., St. Johns River); has been recorded in the Mississipi River 200 miles upstream (Robins and Ray 1986). Generally prefers soft bottom habitats. (Lee et al. 1980). In Florida, common to abundant in water less than 1 m deep in spring, summer, and fall; moves to deeper water during cold weather, resumes activity in shallow seagrass flats when temperatures rise above 16-17 C (Snelson et al. 1988).

Life cycle ⁹

Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures (Ref. 50449). Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).

Reproduction ¹⁰

Spawns probably from spring through early fall (Lee et al. 1980). In Florida, reproductive activity observed in March, may have occurred throughout winter and spring; females ovulated late March-early April, carried ova in uterus April-May, young born late July-early August after apparent 4-4.5 month gestation; brood size 1-4 (Snelson et al. 1988).

Link to Access Genomic Data ¹¹

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=79690&lvl=0

Sources and Credits

1. (c) NOAANMFSMississippi Laboratory, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://d1iraxgbwuhpbw.cloudfront.net/images/species/dasab_u2.jpg
2. (c) toadlady1, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Dasyatis_sabina_charleston.jpg
3. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dasyatis_sabina
4. (c) Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/11525983
5. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28869009
6. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) FishBase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/20978543
7. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/11525986
8. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28869007
9. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) FishBase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/20978546
10. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28869005
11. (c) matbio, all rights reserved

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• FishBase
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• VertNet
• World Register of Marine Species

Range Map

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