Southern stingray

The southern stingray (Hypanus americanus) is a whiptail stingray found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Western Atlantic Ocean from New Jersey to southern Brazil. It has a flat, diamond-shaped disc, with a mud brown, olive, and grey dorsal surface and white underbelly (ventral surface). The barb on its tail is serrated and covered in a venomous mucus, used for self-defense.

Behaviour

Southern stingrays are nocturnal predators, who spray water from their mouths or flap their fins vigorously to disturb the substrate and expose hidden prey. This bottom-dwelling species is often found singly or in pairs, and can reach population densities estimated up to 245 per square kilometre (630/mi2) in certain shallow systems thought to be nursery grounds. Hypanus americanus exhibit wave-like locomotion using their pectoral fins. This wave-like motion is important for H. americanus because it allows them to escape predators, forage efficiently, and generally maneuver quickly. Typically, they travel large distances and their foraging area is very expansive. One study provided observations that H. americanus swim along the tide, because of the greater food availability along tides. H. americanus are able to do this because of their high maneuverability and efficient wave-like locomotion. H. americanus either remain solitary or form groups. Groups of H. americanus are usually observed when they mate, for predator protection or even when they are just resting.