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Download Family Urolophidae Stingrays and Stingarees
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Family Urolophidae Stingrays and Stingarees Taxonomy Order Myliobatiformes Family Urolophidae Genera Urobatis Urolophus Trygonoptera Urotrygon 28-41 species in >1 genus: 2 genera? 3 genera? maybe 4?! Morphology General characteristics: round disc, rostrum, and pectoral fins short tail with rounded caudal fin (distinguishes family from others) no dorsal fins venomous spine ½ way down tail fairly small: 25cm DL (Urotrygon microphthalmum) to 66cm DL (Urobatis jamaicensis) coloration varies, even within a species mouth with papillae on floor; dentition unlike other rays teeth are not flat crushing plates and are sexually dimorphic female: small, oval shape; male: pointed cusps Habitat and Distribution benthic/buried in sand subtropical/tropical in eastern Indian Ocean, eastern and western Pacific, western Atlantic along coastlines/continental shelves, usually less than 15-20m may segregate by sex (males in deeper water than females) Reproduction- U. jamaicensis mature at ~15-16cm aplacental viviparous with histotroph nutirition gestation 5-6 months, females pregnant throughout the year, ~7 pups/litter bi-annual reproducers, parturition in June-September and November-January litter size increases with maternal size only during spring/summer cycle Prey/Feeding Habits feed on benthic invertebrates some species use pectoral fins to get inverts out of substrate Human Importance may sting the feet of beachgoers- Urolophus halleri in Seal Beach, CA “stingray shuffle” economic importance- aquariums, little importance to fisheries Conservation Status most species are data deficient or least concern on IUCN Redlist 3 species vulnerable Urolophus orarius- endangered (Australia), Urolophus javanicus- critically endangered (Java) Research reproductive biology- may sort out taxonomy U. halleri in Seal Beach (Chris Lowe at CSULB)- spine regeneration, abundance, distribution, and thermal preferences U. jamaicensis sensory biology comparative studies in FAU sharklab- prey-related olfactory sensitivity, visual fields/binocular vision, color vision U. jamaicensis locomotion (“punting”) in FAU sharklab Selected Works Bester, C. 2006. Round Stingray. Florida Museum Natural History, Icthyology Department. University of Florida. < http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/>. Downloaded on 22 November 2007. Fahy, D.P. and R.E. Spieler. 2007. Preliminary observations on the reproductive cycle and uterine fecundity of the yellow stingray, Urobatis jamaicensis (Elasmobranchii: Myliobatiformes: Urolophidae) in southeast Florida, U.S.A. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Suppl 14: 131-139. Hoisington IV, G. and C.G. Lowe. 2005. Abundance and distribution of the round stingray, Urobatis halleri, near a heated effluent outfall. Marine Environmental Research 60: 437-453. IUCN 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 November 2007. Piercy, A. 2006. Yellow Stingray. Florida Museum Natural History, Icthyology Department. University of Florida. < http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/>. Downloaded on 22 November 2007.
