Southern stingray

Biology

The southern stingray, which lives in sandy areas close to the coast, has a well-developed serrated spine that is toxic at the base of the tail. If it should be accidentally stepped on, it can cause painful wounds. It spends most of the day buried in the sand and at night swims on the sea floor searching for food. Its prey is unearthed by wavy movements of its fins.

Conservation

Caught as incidental bycatch with trammel nets, bottom trawls, and bottom longlines along the east coast of the USA. Most are released and mortality is probably low.

Curiosities

Southern stingrays visit cleaning stations where bluehead wrasses and spanish hogfish eat parasites and mucus from the stingrays' bodies. Atlantic stingrays can be found in singles, pairs and sometimes in loose aggregations.