Description
The Common Stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca) is a large, flat-bodied marine creature commonly found in coastal waters. It has a diamond-shaped body with a smooth, grey or brown top surface, often with lighter undersides. Known for its long, slender tail, it typically has a barbed spine used for defense. Stingrays are bottom dwellers, often found resting on sandy or muddy sea floors. They are filter feeders, using their flat mouths to sift through the sand for small fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. Despite their intimidating appearance, Common Stingrays are generally peaceful and non-aggressive unless provoked. They are often seen gliding gracefully through the water.
Habitat
The Common Stingree (Dasyatis pastinaca) is typically found in shallow coastal waters, including estuaries, sandbanks, mudflats, and mangrove areas. They prefer soft, sandy or muddy seabeds where they can rest or hunt for food. Common Stingrees are often found at depths of up to 50 meters, although they are most commonly spotted in shallower waters of less than 20 meters.
Diet
The Common Stingree is a carnivorous bottom-feeder, primarily feeding on small fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. Using their flat, disc-shaped mouths, they sift through the sandy or muddy seabed, searching for prey. They often hunt by burrowing into the substrate or waiting for food to pass by. Their diet is typically composed of invertebrates, such as shrimp, crabs, and clams, as well as small fish that live near the ocean floor.
Threats
IUCN Conservation Status: Near Threatened