Dasyatis chrysonota (Blue stingray)

(Smith, 1828)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Chondrichthyes > Elasmobranchii > Batoidei >  Myliobatoidei > Dasyatidae

Dasyatis chrysonota (Blue stingray) [Illustration by Ann Hecht ©]

Identification

An angular stingray with conspicuous bright blue blotches and branching lines on a golden brown disk. Snout and disk angular, tail less than twice body length, a short upper caudal finfold and a longer lower one which falls far in front of tail tip, disk without thorns, and usually 1 sting. Underside white, tail darker and without bands.

Size

To 1.5 m TL and 75 cm DW.

Range

Most of the area from Namibia to Natal; Eastern Atlantic from Senegal south to the area.

Habitat

Close inshore, often off sheltered sandy beaches and in shallow bays, but also outer shelf down to 109 m.

Biology

Very common in the surf zone, feeds on swimming crabs, mole crabs, mysids, shrimp, mantis shrimp, amphipods, polychaete and acorn worms, and small fishes. Bears 1 to 4 young. Moves inshore off beaches in summer, offshore in winter.

Human Impact

A popular sportfish, commonly caught by rock and surf and skiboat anglers but generally released after capture. Formerly confused with the European stingray (D. pastinaca), which does not occur in the area.

Text by Leonard J.V. Compagno, David A. Ebert and Malcolm J. Smale