| Pelagic stingray | ||||||||||||||||
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| Dasyatis violacea |
The Pelagic Stingray (Dasyatis violacea) is a type of stingray with a wide range. Unlike other stingrays this species is pelagic, meaning it is often swimming in open water rather than staying on the bottom like most rays. It's pelagic lifestyle means it has different physical characteristics than most rays, like a rounded snout and streamlined eyes which do not protrude from the body. This species also has much sharper teeth than most rays as it's diet includes bonier fishes.
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Physical characteristics
This cartilaginous fish is mostly gray on top with a paler underbelly. It is diamond shaped with a rounded, stream-lined snout.
Diet
It's diet includes, small fish, squid, jellyfish, and crustaceans.
Conservation note
The Pelagic Stingray is not endangered. However they are often bycaught by fishermen or die from ingesting plastic bags, which look like their natural prey; jellyfish.
References
- ^ IUCN (2007-02-22). "More oceanic sharks added to the IUCN Red List". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-02-25. “The pelagic stingray, now listed as Least Concern, contained the workshop’s only good news...”
